Honored to Meet the NorthEast 99s on the Wounds to Wings Tour

This past September, as part of the Wounds to Wings tour, I had the privilege of meeting with the NorthEast 99s in Maine. It was one of those rare moments in a journey when everything seems to align—the history, the purpose, the people, and the shared love of aviation. Throughout this tour, I met countless pilots across the country, but stepping into a room with the NorthEast 99s felt like stepping into a lineage of women who have shaped, challenged, and uplifted aviation for generations.

The Wounds to Wings tour itself was built around more than just flying from state to state. It was rooted in the idea of movement—physical movement across the country and emotional movement through stories of struggle, resilience, and healing. Each stop was an opportunity to connect not only with the aviation community but with individuals who understood what it means to push through turbulence, both literal and metaphorical. The 99s, with their nearly century-long legacy of empowering women in aviation, exemplify this spirit.

Maine marked a meaningful milestone in that journey. After thousands of miles, dozens of airports, unpredictable weather, and the inevitable moments of exhaustion, reaching that region felt like a quiet exhale. The landscape itself has a way of reminding you to slow down long enough to absorb where you are and why you came. Meeting the NorthEast 99s added a depth to that moment that I didn’t fully anticipate. Their genuine curiosity, thoughtful questions, and warm welcome created an atmosphere that felt both grounding and energizing. It was the furthest East point on my tour and marked the “coast to coast” it felt like a huge milestone and I was honored to share it with my fellow female aviators.

I was honored to share the story of the tour with them, but even more humbled when they invited me to expand on that experience for their community. That reflection became the feature essay published in the November/December issue of the 99s Magazine, titled “Taking Flight: The First-Ever Aeronautical Book Tour.” The article explores not just the logistics of the journey, but the meaning behind it—the moments of doubt, the unexpected kindness of strangers, the quiet mornings on distant ramps, and the reminder that movement, in all its forms, is often what brings clarity.

Seeing the story published among the pages of a magazine that has highlighted so many pioneering women was an honor in itself. The 99s are not simply an organization; they are a testament to the strength and perseverance of women who dared to defy expectations long before it was commonplace. To be included in their publication, and to have the chance to share part of my journey with their readership, is something I will always hold with deep appreciation.

For anyone who would like to read the full issue, including the essay, the magazine is available at the following link:
https://www.ninety-nines.org/pdf/newsmagazine/20251112.pdf

Meeting the NorthEast 99s was a highlight of the Wounds to Wings tour and a reminder that while flying may be a solitary act in the cockpit, the life of an aviator is anything but solitary. It is shaped by community, shared experience, and the stories we pass along to one another.