Two Air Force pilots to get Stinson Trophy - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Two Air Force pilots to get Stinson Trophy

Two female Air Force fighter pilots are set to receive the Stinson Trophy from National Aeronautical Association later this month.

Honored will be Lt. Col. Jean Havens and Lt. Col. Jeannie Leavitt.

The Stinson Award recognizes a living woman for an outstanding and enduring contribution, a meritorious flight, or a singular technical development in the field of aviation or related sciences.

Leavitt became the U.S.’s first female fighter pilot, rising to be a squadron commander.

Havens, an F-16 pilot, was among the Air Force’s few female instructor pilots. She has spent much of the past three years focused on rebuilding the Iraqi air force.

The pilots will receive the trophy Feb. 27 during the International Women in Aviation Annual Conference at Walt Disney World in Florida.

The award is named after sisters Katherine and Marjorie Stinson, who were among the first 11 American women to be certified as airplane pilots through the Aero Club of America. The sisters’ flying school helped numerous pilots earn their Aero Club licenses, the precursor to Federal Aviation Administration pilot certificates.