Women comprise less than ten percent of the total pilot population in the United States (according to statistics from Women in Aviation). In the military, the representation of female aviators is even lower, and women were prohibited from flying in combat until the early 1990s. As a result, it is a big deal when a woman takes the controls of one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. Last week, U.S. Marine Captain Anneliese Satz flew the single-seat Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, becoming the first woman to fly the advanced fighter jet.
First Female Pilot Flies the F-35B
Key Takeaways:
- U.S. Marine Captain Anneliese Satz made history by becoming the first woman to pilot the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, an advanced supersonic STOVL (Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing) stealth fighter jet.
- Her achievement highlights the significant underrepresentation of women in aviation, particularly in military combat roles, from which they were prohibited until the early 1990s.
- Satz's unique path included earning a commercial helicopter pilot certificate before completing Marine Corps flight training and now preparing for deployment to Iwakuni, Japan.
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