US Airways' Connie Tobias Portrays
Aviation Pioneer Harriet Quimby
by Captain Connie Tobias

PART I

About Harriet Quimby

A tall, willowy brunette, Harriet Quimby, used a typewriter, a camera, became a successful journalist, and drove an automobile, all in 1911!

Harriet Quimby was the first woman in the United States to earn a pilot's license, number 37. And, she was the first woman in the world to fly across the English Channel. However, there wasn't much news coverage: the Titanic sank the day before. Writers did not immortalize her; she faded from the spotlight and became nothing more than a footnote in history.

But while Harriet was alive, she was a prolific writer and visionary. On August 31, 1911, Miss Quimby wrote an article published in Leslie's Illustrated Weekly. 'The Dangers of Flying and How to Avoid them.' She said, 'The time is coming when we shall find the means of transportation by birdlike flights as safe and satisfactory as transportation by steamship or locomotive and with still greater speed.

The day is coming when vast thousands of people will span the oceans in comfort and safety in giant aeroplanes to the distant capitols of our world neighbors.'

After her death, Harriet's last article, found on her desk, was published in Good Housekeeping, September, 1912. It was titled, 'American Birdwoman.' She wrote, 'In my opinion, there is no reason why the aeroplane should not open up a fruitful occupation for women. I see no reason why they cannot realize handsome incomes by carrying passengers between adjacent towns....'

Ninety years later, another tall, willowy brunette with a striking resemblance to Harriet Quimby dawned a Quimby look-alike purple satin flying suit, boots, gloves, and flying goggles, drove a 1906 Cadillac to a 1909 Bleriot aeroplane just like Harriet's, and flew a tribute to celebrate Harriet Quimby's achievements.

Connie Tobias, US Airways A330 International pilot and ISA member, appeared as Harriet Quimby in an historical re-enactment of the Bleriot flight at the Aviation Heritage Festival, Daniel Webster College, Nashua, New Hampshire.
The Collings Foundation, a nonprofit, educational foundation that organizes and supports living history events, had an original 1909 Bleriot in flying condition. Bob Collings met Connie, and immediately noticed that she bears a striking resemblance to Harriet Quimby. He invited Connie to participate in the flying tribute.

July 10, 2001, Stow, MA
Connie had copies made of Harriet's flying suit and boots, and added her own touches with a lucky charm, scarf, French goggles, and gloves. You'll want to see her fantastic costume, and compare the size of the Bleriot with the A330/300 that she flies now.

PART II

The Bleriot

The 1909 Bleriot is one of the most famous and successful of several classic airplanes that emerged when all of Europe seemed to be taking to the skies in that period. Louis Bleriot became the first person to fly across the English channel.

truly something else!

No ailerons and no brakes, no instruments, save rpm and oil pressure gauges. No magnetic compass, no turn and bank, no airspeed, nothing. Who had time to look anyway!

Gentle, flat skidding turns were the best. Drop a wing, lower the nose, oh, so slightly, and rudder the wing back up gently. Any other way could spell disaster.

There is a tremendous amount of drag on this aeroplane. It took full power all the time. She had a tuck tendency in the air...not enough elevator. She liked to ground loop on those bicycle-like tires when you eased the power off.

Not enough rudder. Look out, trees and duck pond next to the grass strip. She would come to a graceful stop when you killed the magneto switches on the ground though.

I remember pondering that that was a handy thing to know after one rather wide-eyed adventure! A three-point landing with power on was needed. I did not dare remove any less than momentary minor amounts of power, followed by full power and repeat on the descent and landing.

The only two attitudes that I thought were safe was straight and level and a little nose high for landing. I made up my own emergency procedures before I test flew her. I really mumbled a lot to Harriet Quimby while I was flying.

Oh, and about that purple satin flying suit with hood: goggles do not stay put when in contact with satin!

PART III

Meet Connie Tobias
On a cross-country bike tour she had organized, Connie stopped to watch a jet plane take off. 'That's when I decided to go home, sell everything and become a pilot.' She had already tried climbing mountains, riding horses and motorcycles and rafting the fastest navigable waters in the world. Connie put herself through college in her mid-20s with scholarships, grants and loans. She graduated summa cum laude with two aviation degrees and an academic Masters in Engineering from Russ College of Engineering and Technology at Ohio University.

Connie built her flight time by instructing, flying fire patrol, charters and regionals. In 1984, she was hired by Piedmont Airlines, now US Airways.

Like Harriet Quimby, Connie possesses the important components of success - dreams, desire, daring, dedication, discipline and determination.

Connie recently decided that now is her time to give something back to the next generation. 'I'm so fortunate to be able to have a job I really love and to live the American Dream,' she said. 'We have set up a scholarship for young women and men to help them attain their dreams.' The scholarship is at Ohio University's Russ College of Engineering and Technology, her alma mater.

Connie will continue to wear her purple suit and speak to groups about Harriet's accomplishments in order to raise funds for the scholarship at the university. She is also keenly involved in supporting the scholarship activities of the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. We're honored to count you among our ISA members, Connie.

“My hat is off to those pioneer aviators”, says Connie. “With over 16,000 hours in over 60 different kinds of aircraft, I am honored and
proud to have 4.8 hours in an original Bleriot.”

Sources for this article include photos, letters, and e-mails from US Airways Captains Lori Cline and Connie Tobias. Especially helpful was the feature article, ‘Harriet Quimby and Connie Tobias – Women Pilots of Yesterday and Today, by Pat Crigler (U.S. Airways News, August 8, 2001)’