Wight Aviation Museum Celebrates Trailblazing Women Aviators on Open Day

Prepare for an inspiring Saturday as the Wight Aviation Museum opens its doors for a special event celebrating trailblazing women aviators with strong connections to the Isle of Wight! ?

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On the 21st of September, museum visitors will have the chance to meet two extraordinary authors, Sally Smith and Alison Hill, who have captured the daring stories of these remarkable women aviators.?

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Sally Smith , the author behind Magnificent Women and Flying Machines, is not just a writer but also a seasoned skydiver and balloonist who pioneered the UK's first all-female parachute team.?

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Alison Hill , who authored Pauline Gower, Pioneering Leader of the Spitfire Women, dives into the life of Pauline Gower—an iconic aviator with deep Isle of Wight roots. Pauline was part of the famous Gower-Spicer duo, known for their Spartan aircraft crafted on the Island.?

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Alison's book also unveils the fascinating story of Dorothy Spicer, who, in a time when women were barred from acquiring certain engineering licenses, trained secretly on Spartan aircraft at Saunders-Roe in Cowes.?

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During the open day, visitors will have the opportunity to tour the museum, explore the new exhibition space, and maybe even take home a piece of history. Visitors can also enter the draw for a chance to win a limited edition print by renowned Island artist Ivan Berryman, featuring a Spartan bi-plane G-ABYN—a symbol of the Gower-Spicer legacy—soaring majestically over Osborne House, Queen Victoria's former Isle of Wight residence.?

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The event will also unveil exciting plans to retrieve a G-ABYN aircraft from New Zealand. This iconic three-seater Spartan II, the last of its kind built in the 1930s, is currently in New Zealand, but there's a strong hope to bring it back to the Isle of Wight as a centrepiece for the museum.?

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Brookfield Aviation International firmly believes in the value of discussing and preserving this history, as initiatives such as this promote an understanding of the courage and innovation of past aviators and inspire the dreams and ambitions of those to come! ?

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Wight Aviation Museum 's open day event commences at 10 am on 21st September and will run till 4 pm, with talks kicking off at 2 pm.?