Patricia Denkler (born October 4, 1952) is a former American naval aviator. She was the first woman to land a plane on an aircraft carrier. [1]
Patricia Denkler (born October 4, 1952) is a former American naval aviator. She was the first woman to land a plane on an aircraft carrier. [1]
Patricia Denkler | |
|---|---|
| Aviation career | |
| Full name | Patricia A. Denkler, USN |
| First flight | 1979 |
| Famous flights | First Navy Woman to be carrier qualified in a jet aircraft |
Denkler began flying in 1975. Before joining the United States Navy, she flew tailwheel-type aircraft and gained aerobatics experience in biplanes. [2]
Denkler followed in the footsteps of her father and brother to become a Naval aviator. [2] William Denkler was a Naval aviator who flew in World War II. [3] In 1977, she met then Commander John McCain who encouraged her to apply to the Navy Flight Program. [4] The U.S. Navy only began accepting women pilots in 1973. [1] She applied for Aviation Officer Candidate School and was accepted for the October 1977 class. At that time, approximately fifteen women were selected per year. [5]
After earning her wings in 1979, Denkler was chosen to be a selectively retained graduate. She was recognized as an above average aviator and continued in the flight training program as an instructor after graduation. [2] During her time in the Navy, she became the first female naval aviator to carrier qualify in a jet aircraft. [6] She later became the first woman to land a plane on an aircraft carrier when in 1981, she flew a TA-4J aboard the USS Lexington. In 1982, she became the first woman to land a fleet combat aircraft, the A6E Intruder on a carrier. [5]
Denkler joined the Ninety Nines in 1985. [7] After retiring from the Navy, she became a pilot at Delta Airlines, where she worked for 31 years. [8] In 1988, she moved to Beaufort, South Carolina. [8]
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