Celebrating a legendary aviation pioneer

In celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of a great woman, Bessie Coleman, achieving the greatest accomplishment of her time, the Atlanta Municipal Airport along with Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Committee, and so many more hosted an extra special fly in event in her honor.

Special guest speakers included Melody Cranford, who spoke passionately about the life of Coleman, her achievements, and how she helped to shape the future for African American, Native American, and women aviators. An other special guest speaker was Coleman’s great niece, Gigi Coleman. She spoke of Coleman receiving her pilot’s license two years before Amelia Earhart and how at her shows if they were not integrated she would refuse to perform. She also added that Coleman was not only a pilot, but also had her own chili powder and was a manicurist.

Indeed, Coleman was a one of a kind woman who was and still is worthy of celebration. Having had to go to France to obtain her pilot’s license, she not only became the first African American and Native America woman to obtain her license, but also the first to obtain her international aviation license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.

Her honors are many: in 2001 she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, in 2006 she was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, in 2014 she was inducted into the International Air and Space Hall of Fame, and the Regional History Museum in Atlanta displays a scaled down version of her biplane “Queen Bess.”

The museum also has other memorabilia including a uniform and the road to the Atlanta Municipal Airport is named in her honor.

Mike Lee, President of the Atlanta, Texas Airport Board says, “It was an amazing event celebrating Bessie’s birthday, but also served to promote the joy and benefits of aviation to the people in our community.” The girls who participated in the fly in were treated to a quick flight with the Texas Dogwood 99s and then lunch cooked by Atlanta Fire Department. It was a special day for everyone to celebrate the life and legacy of an incredibly special woman.