Trailblazer in Flight

“Will appeal to aviation enthusiasts and anyone curious to know how this modest, likeable woman smashed her way through an enormous glass ceiling.” —Surrey Life magazine

Yvonne Pope Sintes only ever wanted to fly. But in the 1950s, very few women were allowed into the male dominated world of aviation. Her dream was to join the ranks of the Royal Air Force and, despite an awareness of the pitfalls that might await her, she embarked upon her mission. Her story, told here for the first time and in her own words, is one characterized by gritty determination against the odds.

A career trajectory marked by such landmark achievements as becoming the first female Air Traffic Controller with the Ministry of Aviation, the first female civil airline pilot in the UK, and the first female jet airline captain in Britain are relayed in this inspiring autobiography. Bomb scares, engine failures and other perilous episodes punctuated Yvonne’s experience and she received a raft of prestigious awards over the course of her career. All her challenges and triumphs are revealed in this lively narrative for a truly rousing and engrossing read.