Marta Bohn-Meyer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marta Bohn-Meyer
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| Born | 18 August 1957 |
| Died | 18 September 2005 (aged 48) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Dryden Flight Research Center |
Marta Bohn-Meyer (born August 18, 1957 – died September 18, 2005) was a brave American pilot and a clever engineer. She was known for her important work with NASA and for being an amazing aerobatic pilot.
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Who Was Marta Bohn-Meyer?
Marta Bohn-Meyer was born in Amityville, New York. She grew up to become a very important person at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. At NASA, she was the chief engineer, which meant she was in charge of many big projects.
Her Work at NASA
Marta was involved in many exciting research projects at NASA. She made history as the first female crewmember to fly on the Lockheed SR-71. This super-fast plane was used to study how air moves around aircraft (called aerodynamics) and how engines work (called propulsion). She helped test new ideas using this special plane.
Marta also managed a project that looked at new ways to design airplane wings. This project used a special plane called the General Dynamics F-16XL. Her work helped make planes more efficient and better at flying.
An Amazing Pilot
Besides her engineering work, Marta Bohn-Meyer was also a very talented pilot. She was an "Unlimited aerobatic" pilot, which means she could perform amazing tricks and stunts in the air. She was so good that she was chosen twice to be part of the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Team. This team competes against other countries, showing off their incredible flying skills. In 2005, she even became the manager for the team.
Her Education and Legacy
Marta graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, in 1979. It was there that she met her husband, Robert R. Meyer, Jr., who also worked at NASA as an engineer.
Marta Bohn-Meyer was more than just a brilliant engineer and pilot. She was a wonderful role model, especially for young girls. She often visited classrooms to encourage young women to explore careers in science and engineering. She showed them that these fields, which were often thought of as only for men, were open to everyone.
Her Passing
Marta Bohn-Meyer sadly passed away on September 18, 2005. She was practicing for a flying competition, the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships, when her plane crashed in Yukon, Oklahoma. The accident happened because a part of the plane's canopy (the clear cover over the cockpit) broke, which caused the crash.
See also
In Spanish: Marta Bohn-Meyer para niños
