Mary Feik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Feik
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| Born | March 9, 1924 |
| Died | June 10, 2016 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Aircraft Mechanic, Pilot, Restorer |
| Spouse(s) | Robert Lewis Feik |
| Children | Robin |
| Awards | Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award; The Mary Feik Achievement Ribbon |
Mary Feik (pronounced FYKE; March 9, 1924 – June 10, 2016) was an amazing American aviation expert. She was an engineer, mechanic, pilot, and teacher. Mary also helped restore old airplanes. She earned many awards and was a colonel in the Civil Air Patrol.
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Mary Feik's Early Life
Mary became interested in airplanes at age seven. A pilot who performed air shows visited her town. She took a ride in his Curtiss JN-4 biplane and loved it!
Learning About Engines
By age 11, Mary learned how to weld. At 13, she fixed her first car engine. She worked in her father's repair shop. When she was 18, she started working on aircraft engines. She also worked on military planes.
Becoming an Engineer
Mary wanted to study engineering in college. But the school told her, "We don't take women." So, she took a job teaching aircraft maintenance. This was at Seymour Field in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Later, she got a job at Wilbur Wright Field in Ohio. This was a big step for her career.
A Pioneer Aviation Engineer
During World War II, Mary Feik became an expert on military aircraft. In 1942, she taught airplane maintenance. She was the first woman engineer in research and development. This was for the Air Technical Service Command.
Flying Military Aircraft
Mary spent over 6,000 hours flying military planes. She flew as an engineer, observer, and pilot. She flew planes like the B-29, P-51, and P-47. She learned to fly the P-51 very quickly.
When the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star jet came out, she got a new one. It was even nicknamed "Mary's Little Lamb."
Dangerous Test Flights
Being a test engineer was risky. Mary once flew a Bell P-59 Airacomet jet for gunnery training. Tracer rounds came very close to her plane. She even flew an open-cockpit jet! The wind was so strong, she said she was often off her seat.
Mary also designed trainers for jet pilots. She wrote manuals and reports for the Armed Forces. Her special equipment allowed planes to be tested on the ground.
Restoring Historic Aircraft
Mary Feik worked at the National Air and Space Museum. She was a specialist in restoring old airplanes. She helped fix many antique and classic aircraft.
Famous Restoration Projects
Mary helped restore several important planes. These included a 1910 Wiseman-Cooke aircraft. She also worked on a WWI Spad XIII fighter. Other projects included Betty Skelton's Little Stinker and a 1930 Northrop Alpha mail plane. Her own Piper PA-20 Pacer plane is also being restored. It will be given to an air museum.
Mary Feik and the Civil Air Patrol
Mary Feik received a special award from the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). This was for her work between 1982 and 2004. The CAP is a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. It teaches young people about aviation.
Honoring Her Legacy
Just before she passed away, her local CAP group was named after her. It became the "Colonel Mary S. Feik Composite Squadron." Members showed her the official charter and new patch. Mary said having a ribbon named after her was her "ultimate Honor." This ribbon is given to cadets who reach the Senior Airman grade.
Awards and Honors
Mary Feik received many honors for her work in aviation. In 1994, she joined the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame.
Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award
On February 24, 1996, she got the Federal Aviation Administration's Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. This award honors people who have been aircraft mechanics for at least 50 years. Mary was the first woman to ever receive it. The award is named after the Wright brothers' mechanic.
Civil Air Patrol Achievement
Mary's proudest honor came in 2003. The Civil Air Patrol cadet achievement was named after her. She said this was her "ultimate honor."
Personal Life
Mary married Robert Feik on June 17, 1950. They were married for 54 years until he passed away in 2004. They had a daughter named Robin.
Mary lived in Annapolis, Maryland. Each year, she spoke to cadets from the Civil Air Patrol. She also spoke at the Maryland Wing's Tri-Wing Encampment.
Mary Feik passed away from cancer on June 10, 2016. She was at her home in Annapolis.
Her old Piper PA-20 Pacer plane is being restored. This is part of a high school program. It is being rebuilt through the Build a Plane foundation.
