Lotfia Elnadi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lotfia El Nadi
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| Born | October 29, 1907 |
| Died | 2002 (aged 94–95) Cairo, Egypt
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| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Occupation | Aviator |
| Known for | One of the first female pilots in the world and the first Egyptian woman to fly a plane from Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt. |
Lotfia Elnadi (Arabic: لطفية النادي; October 29, 1907 – 2002) was an Egyptian aviator. She was the first Egyptian woman to earn a pilot's license. She was also the first woman from the Arab world and Africa to achieve this amazing feat.
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Lotfia's Early Life and Dreams
Lotfia Elnadi was born in Cairo, Egypt, on October 29, 1907. Her family was well-off. After she finished primary school, most girls were expected to get married. They would then become a housewife and mother.
Lotfia's father worked for the government. He thought Lotfia did not need to go to high school. But her mother wanted her to attend the American College. This school had a modern way of teaching and focused on languages.
How Lotfia Started Flying
Lotfia read an article about a new flying school in Cairo. She decided right away that she wanted to go there. Her father did not agree with her idea.
First, she asked a journalist for help, but he said no. So, Lotfia went straight to the director of EgyptAir, Kamal Elwi. She asked him for assistance. He saw that her story could bring good attention to the school. So, he agreed to help her.
Lotfia did not have money for flying lessons. Instead, she worked as a secretary and telephone operator for the school. This work paid for her flying classes.
Lotfia's Amazing Flying Career
Lotfia told her father she was going to a study group twice a week. But she was actually taking flight lessons! She was one of 33 students, and all the others were boys.
On September 27, 1933, Lotfia earned her pilot's license. She became the first African and Arab woman pilot in the world. She did this after only 67 days of training.
At first, her father was upset. But when he saw how much good news Lotfia received, he was no longer angry. He even let her take him on a flight over the pyramids. Her achievement was big news all over the world.
Flying in Races
On December 19, 1933, Lotfia flew in an international race. The race was between Cairo and Alexandria. She flew her plane at about 100 miles per hour. Lotfia reached the finish line before any of the other pilots.
She won a prize of £E200. King Fuad congratulated her for her effort. Huda Sha'arawi, a leader who supported women's rights, also praised Lotfia. She said Lotfia was an inspiration. Huda then helped raise money to buy Lotfia her own plane.
Lotfia worked as the main secretary for the Egyptian Aviation Club. She flew planes for about five years. Then, she had an accident that hurt her spine.
After Lotfia's example, many other Egyptian women started flight training. They became pilots for about ten years. During the Second World War, no other women trained as pilots until 1945. After that, Dina-Carole El Sawy became a pilot for EgyptAir.
Lotfia's Later Life
After her flying accident, Lotfia went to Switzerland for medical treatment. She stayed there for many years.
In 1989, she was invited back to Cairo. This was for the 54th anniversary of civil aviation in Egypt. She received a special award called the Order of Merit. This award was from the Egyptian Organization of Aerospace Education.
In 1996, a documentary film was made about her life. It was called Take Off From the Sand. When she was in her 80s, Lotfia moved to Toronto, Canada. She lived there with her nephew and his family for a few years. Later, when she was in her late 80s, she moved back to Cairo. Lotfia never married. She passed away in Cairo in 2002.
Lotfia's Legacy
Lotfia Elnadi is remembered as a brave pioneer.
- In 2014, a Google Doodle celebrated her 107th birthday.
- In 2017, another Google Doodle honored her on International Women's Day.
See also
In Spanish: Lotfia ElNadi para niños
