Myrtle Cagle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Myrtle Cagle
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Myrtle Cagle in 1995
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| Born |
Myrtle K. Thompson
June 3, 1925 |
| Died | December 22, 2019 (aged 94) Georgia, United States
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| Known for | Mercury 13, aviation |
Myrtle "Kay" Thompson Cagle (June 3, 1925 – December 22, 2019) was an amazing American pilot. She was also one of the brave women in the Mercury 13 group, who trained to become astronauts. Kay taught people how to fly planes and wrote articles about flying in North Carolina.
Contents
Kay Cagle's Early Life and Flying
Learning to Fly Young
Myrtle Cagle was born on June 3, 1925, in North Carolina. From a very young age, Kay always dreamed of flying. When she was just 12 years old, her brothers taught her how to fly using their own airplane.
By the time she was 14, Kay had "earned her wings." This meant she was a licensed pilot. She was the youngest pilot in North Carolina at that time. She might even have been the youngest pilot in the entire United States.
Becoming a Flight Instructor
Kay joined her high school's aviation class. When her teacher was called to fight in World War II, Kay finished the school year as the instructor! She was nicknamed "Captain K" because she was such a good flight instructor.
At 19, Kay earned her private pilot's license. She joined groups like the Civil Air Patrol and the Ninety-Nines. She even hoped to become a WASP, which were women pilots who helped during the war.
Kay later managed an airport near Raleigh. She also started her own plane rental service. In 1950, she won a trophy in the famous Women's Air Derby, also known as the Powder Puff Derby. By 1951, she had earned her Commercial Pilots license. She was also certified to teach flying. Her flight school was located in Selma.
Writing About Aviation
In 1946, Kay started writing a newspaper column called "Air Currents." It was all about flying. This column first appeared in the Johnstonian Sun newspaper. Later, from 1953 to 1960, her column moved to the Raleigh News and Observer.
Kay was very skilled. When she flew a Lockheed T-33 jet trainer, she became one of only five women ever to pilot a jet.
The Mercury 13 Program
Joining the Space Program
In 1960, Kay married Walt Cagle, who used to be her student. Her wedding dress was even made from parachutes! In 1961, she moved to Macon, Georgia. Soon after, she was invited to join a new program called the Women in Space Program.
By the time the program began, Kay had flown planes for 4,300 hours. This was a lot of flying experience! Kay and the twelve other women in the program later became known as the "Mercury 13."
Training for Space
During the program, the women were told not to get pregnant. Kay went through many tests as part of the training. She said one of the hardest tests was when her eardrums were frozen. These tests were very tough, designed to see if women could handle space travel.
Life After Mercury 13
Continuing Her Aviation Career
After the Mercury 13 program, Kay went back to teaching students how to fly. She also studied at Mercer University. She stayed active in the Civil Air Patrol. In 1964, she took part in the International Women's Air Race.
In 1986, Kay joined the Warner Robins Air Logistics Team. In 1988, she became the second woman to get a special mechanic's rating from the Georgia Institute of Technology. This rating allowed her to work on airplane engines and frames.
Even at 73 years old, in 1998, Kay was still flying her single-engine Cessna plane. She had retired from teaching at Robins Air Force Base, but she never stopped loving to fly.
Awards and Recognition
On April 26, 2003, Kay Cagle was honored by being added to the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. In 2007, she and eight other Mercury 13 women received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. This showed how much their efforts and bravery were appreciated.
Death
Myrtle Cagle passed away on December 22, 2019. She left behind a legacy as a pioneering pilot and a brave woman who pushed boundaries in aviation and space exploration.
