Connecticut Ninety-Nines

02/17/2025

07/30/2024

A number of our chapter members recently attended EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh - including our past president Laura Doherty and past vice chair Donna Shea, who are finally able to enjoy a "vacation" from their 99s duties!

Thank you to EAA for their support of women in aviation through EAA WomenVenture, which aims to inspire, empower, and break down barriers for young girls and women that dream of flight.

See below for the 2024 group photo from WomenVenture - and maybe you'll spot someone you know!

06/09/2024

Despite the forecast - great turnout at our event today at Sikorsky Airport in Bridgeport! Three of our members took airplane rides in WWII era aircraft, and member Shana Barnett got a free ride in the Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder!

Thanks to the Commemorative Air Force for their support of women in aviation!

05/26/2024

An exclusive opportunity for Connecticut 99s members! Check your email to enter and/or RSVP.

Join us Sunday, June 9th. We'll be having an informal gathering at the Windsock Inn starting at 12:00PM, which has outdoor picnic area for watching the flights. The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) will be flying warbirds from the nearby ramp throughout the day (weather permitting) and can be viewed from outside the fence.

Optional visits to the Connecticut Air & Space Museum next door are an additional $10. Guests are welcome to join!

This event is WEATHER PERMITTING.

05/19/2024

An enormous thank you to all of the staff at Fly the Whale for hosting our chapter yesterday for a BBQ and tour!

They let us get up close and personal with a Citation and a Caravan on floats, and highlighted multiple women that work for the company, including pilots, sales managers, flight operations, and maintenance.

Two of our chapter members even had the chance to go up in a seaplane after winning a very funny Life Jacket Race!

Thank you to Fly the Whale for being supporters of women in aviation, and thanks to all of our chapter members and guests who attended this wonderful event!

05/15/2024

Congratulations to chapter member Joanne Swanson, who earned her ATP on May 5th!

Joanne has been a member of the Connecticut Ninety-Nines since 2019, and is the only member of our chapter to have graduated from the Professional Pilot Leadership Initiative (PPLI) program through the International Ninety-Nines. She currently works as a corporate pilot flying a Gulfstream G550!

Congratulations Joanne!!!

05/08/2024

The Connecticut Ninety-Nines are GROWING! We are gaining more and more women pilots in Connecticut every month.

04/14/2024

CONGRATULATIONS to chapter member Amber Irimia! Amber is the winner of the 2024 Connecticut Chapter Flight Training Scholarship in honor of Fredrika Ballard.

This past Friday, chapter scholarship chair Sarah Dorina Smith-Dufton along with other members of the Connecticut 99s, representatives from the Westfield-Barnes Airport, and CFI Sammie Gladu had the honor of presenting the scholarship to Amber in person.

Amber has been a passionate flight student at Fly Lugu under the tutelage of Sammie since July of 2023. What began as a skydiving trip in Utah prompted Amber to wonder what it would be like to fly the airplane instead of just jumping out of one! Amber started training in September of 2021, and with some adjustments along the way, found her flying home at Fly Lugu.

Amber is married with two children and currently works in the mental health field as an APRN. Sammie states that Amber has great focus, passion, and a strong desire to educate herself - even on bad weather days - to grow as a proficient and safe pilot!

It was a great honor to see this scholarship, made in Rika's memory, go to someone so deserving and at the flight school she founded. Rika's presence was felt among all attendees of the announcement ceremony. Her spirit is living on, and for that we know she is proud of her ongoing impact.

http://www.connecticut99s.org

04/11/2024

Scholarship opportunity!

Up to $5,000 is being offered by the Flight Safety Foundation through the Gloria Heath scholarship.

Here is the link to the scholarship page: https://flightsafety.org/.../gloria-heath-scholarship/

The application deadline is May 10, 2024!

02/11/2024

For children ages 9-12: Early bird discounted registration for 2024 Aerospace Academy Camp is now open through February 29, 2024! Regular registration at standard rates begins on March 1, 2024.

Aerospace Academy Camp is a state licensed day camp held at the New England Air Museum for children ages 9-12. Campers participate in a range of hands-on activities focusing on aviation science and history, aircraft restoration, flight simulators, drones, and much more! Campers meet retired aerospace engineers and pilots, enjoy behind-the-scenes access to the New England Air Museum and its collections, and end the week with a special full day field trip to the Hartford Jet Center at Hartford-Brainard Airport. Each Aerospace Academy Camp session is from 9:00am-3:00pm, Monday-Friday, with all six sessions offering the same exciting schedule and activities.

https://neam.org/pages/summer-camp?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=NEAM+%7C+SummerCamp+24+%7C+Purchase+Optimized+%7C+TOFU&utm_content=120204797468580439&fbclid=IwAR1sRRH3j-P7ZoO3FjpE7y8s37JCqRLThsRN_A2bS-WKfx6EB2GiCDMYGig

New England Air Museum is committed to presenting the story of aviation. Explore dozens of fully restored aircraft from years past and discover the possibilities of flight.

02/10/2024

We had a great time at our chapter gathering today! We had NINE new and prospective members! If you’re a female pilot or student pilot in the Connecticut area - check us out!