Powder-Puff Pilots
February 1942 Flying Aces

February 1942 Flying Aces

Flying Aces February 1942 - Airplanes and Rockets Table of Contents

These pages from vintage modeling magazines like Flying Aces, Air Trails, American Modeler, American Aircraft Modeler, Young Men, Flying Models, Model Airplane News, R/C Modeler, captured the era. All copyrights acknowledged.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, as the saying goes. In 1942, when this featured appeared in Flying Aces magazine, the participation of women and girls in model aviation was very limited. Being that it was more than 75 years ago, it might have been attributable to a lack of encouragement or even outright discouragement by men and boys. However, here it is 75 years later and the participation rate by women and girls is not that much greater. About the only time you see them in photos in modeling magazines is when they are young girls who are part of a schoolroom group activity conducted by an AMA member. The same goes for model rockets. For that matter, the same goes for model cars, boats, and helicopters. A lot of money and time has been invested in trying to motivate girls to engage in model aviation and all other traditionally "male" sports. In extreme cases, boys are shamed for being born as boys and inheriting the "obvious" gender bias that comes with it. The theory goes that if boys would just get out of the way, girls would naturally adopt and thrive where males once did. Has anyone out there ever witnessed guys shooing gals away from the flying field? I didn't think so. Hmmm, seems there's a lot of work to be done by the social busybodies.

Powder-Puff Pilots

Photos By Harold W. Kulick

Don't allow the title of this page to fool you, male model builders. These gals aren't a pushover. Your Model Editor recently attended a gas contest and watched the girls put up some real performance. Like most all feminine creatures, they're a bit baffled by the technical aspects of model plane design and engine operating technique, but they learn quickly, are neat and capable in their work, and some show remarkable ability in craftsmanship.

Yolanda Da Nicola and her Ohlsson-powered cabin job - Airplanes and Rockets

The recent Brooklyn Skyscrapers' model meet drew eleven girl contestants. Here's Yolanda Da Nicola and her Ohlsson-powered cabin job.

Carroll Moon, microphone in hand, describes types of model planes entered - Airplanes and Rockets

Carroll Moon, microphone in hand, describes types of model planes entered by the young ladies. Girls are efficient at clerical work, too.

Doris Meyers, secretary of the Skyscrapers Club - Airplanes and Rockets

Doris Meyers, secretary of the Skyscrapers Club, also manages to get her hand in the modeling game. Here, she assembles the craft she built.

Muriel Chernov's boy friend is the well-known model designer Maurice Schoenbrun - Airplanes and Rockets

Muriel Chernov's boy friend is the well-known model designer Maurice Schoenbrun. He helped design her entry but she built it all alone.

Doris Eggert, of Philadelphia, sister of champ Walter - Airplanes and Rockets

Doris Eggert, of Philadelphia, sister of champ Walter, having her gas job processed at Philly. She's a good modeler in her own right.

Quaker City model builders is Bunny Gutekunst - Airplanes and Rockets

Popular among the Quaker City model builders is Bunny Gutekunst. She appears at meets and learns all she can. Here's her workmanship.

 

 

Posted August 31, 2019