The Flying Flapper

A poem about women flyers, well, mainly one.

When aviation was daring and young,

The fearless and foolish took to the air.

They tested boundaries and tested planes,

Both here and there, and everywhere.

There were a lot of men that took to the skies

But most of the women, they were left out,

Except for Amelia Earhart, Viola Gentry,

And Evelyn "Bobbi" Trout.

Of these pioneer women in the American skies

Amelia Earhart had broken records a-plenty,

But Elinor Smith broke record after record

Before she had reached the age of twenty.

Her name was Elinor Regina Patricia Ward

But her daddy changed their name to Smith

Yes, "The Flying Flapper of Freeport"

Was the name the media saddled her with.

She was a licensed test and transport pilot

Making her living as such

Competing for records and flying firsts

Because she loved to fly so much.

She was the first woman on a Wheaties Box,

Right after she married Patrick Sullivan.

With a husband and four kids to raise,

They thought her flying was done.

NOT!

JEFalcon

02-08-2016

OK 2022

Reviews

[William Michael Reeves]

I will Google her. Poetry that causes the reader to Google something is great! Interactive. Good to read historical poems, thank you. I'll check out the alliterative Freeport flying flapper, fearless foolish Falcon found.

[JE Falcon]

No, thank you. Happy reading.

[JE Falcon]

Elinor was the first PERSON to fly under the New York Bridge and she was the first woman test pilot for both Fairchild and Bellanca (now Avia Bellanca). Also, she was the youngest licensed pilot in the world at age 16. She was quite the woman, but you really need to google her to get the big picture.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Falcon what a fabulous tribute this is to the women of the skies. At a time when men worked and women looked after the home, I praise the pioneering attitude of these go getters. Yes reach for the sky, you can do it if you want to.

Chris