Edna Gardner Whyte facts for kids

Edna Gardner Whyte (born November 3, 1902 – died February 15, 1992) was an amazing American pilot and flight instructor. She flew planes and taught others how to fly for over 40 years! She was also a successful air racer, winning more than 24 races.

Biography

Early Life and First Flights

Edna Marvel Gardner was born in 1902 in Mankato, Minnesota. When she was 8 years old, her father sadly passed away in a train accident. Her mother raised her.

Edna first trained to become a registered nurse. She earned her nursing certificate in 1924.

Her first time flying in an airplane was in 1926, in Renton, Washington. She flew a plane by herself for the first time on January 1, 1931. She then earned her official pilot's license in May 1931.

The next year, she joined the Navy Nurse Corps in Washington, D.C. While working as a nurse, she also taught people how to fly at airports nearby. In 1935, she decided to leave the Nurse Corps. She wanted to spend all her time flying and teaching others to fly.

A Racing Champion

Starting in 1930, Edna took part in more than 100 air races! She won over two dozen of these races and placed well in many others. She was a four-time winner of the Women's International Air Race. She won this big race in 1953, 1958, 1960, and 1961.

Her very last race win was in 1967. She flew in her final race in 1972.

Teaching Others to Fly

From 1935 to 1941, Edna owned and managed the New Orleans Air College. This school was located at Shusham Airport.

During World War II, she played a very important role. She trained hundreds of pilots for the military. She taught them at places like Meacham Field and the Spartan School of Aviation.

Later, she married George M. Whyte. Together, they ran a flight school called Aero Enterprise Flight School in Fort Worth, Texas. She continued teaching there until George passed away in 1970.

After that, she opened Aero Valley Airport in Roanoke, a nearby town. She kept teaching flight lessons there for many more years.

Awards and Legacy

Edna Gardner Whyte received over 80 awards for her amazing work in aviation. One special award was the Charles Lindbergh Lifetime Achievement Award. She also won the 1967 Aviation Woman of the Year award. This was given to her by the Women's National Aeronautical Association.

She was one of the very first members (#10) of the Whirly-Girls. This is a group for women helicopter pilots. She was also the first woman to become an honorary member of the Daedalians. This is a worldwide group for military pilots. She even served as the president of the Ninety-Nines from 1955 to 1957. The Ninety-Nines is an international organization for women pilots.

In 1991, when she was 89 years old, Edna published her autobiography. It was called Rising Above It. She wrote it with Ann Lewis Cooper. Edna Whyte passed away the next year. Her important papers and records are kept at the University of North Texas.

Partial list of races won

Here are some of the races Edna Gardner Whyte won:

• 1930 Closed Course Pylon Race (Racine, Wisconsin)
• 1933 Kate Smith Trophy, National Air Pageant (Long Island, New York)
• 1934 Annette Gipson Trophy Race (Roosevelt Field, New York)
• 1934 Men and Women Pylon Race (Baltimore, Maryland)
• 1937 Women's Alcazar Trophy Race (Miami, Florida)
• 1939 K.K. Culver Trophy Race (Miami, Florida)
• 1953 Women's International Air Race (Canada to Florida)
• 1954 Skylady Derby Efficiency Race (Raton, New Mexico, to Kansas City, Missouri)
• 1957 Dallas Doll Derby Efficiency Race (Dallas, Texas)
• 1958 Women's International Air Race (Canada to Grand Bahamas)
• 1960 Women's International Air Race (Florida to El Salvador)
• 1961 Women's International Air Race (Florida to Bahamas)
• 1964 U.S.A. Rally, Men and Women (Winter Haven, Florida)