When the Sky Had No Ceiling for Pilots

FLYING Magazine

The post-World War II general aviation boom made flying more accessible to many, including women either inspired by or who were members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) and wanted to continue to fly as civilians. Many became members of The Ninety-Nines, the international order of women pilots. 

When an opportunity arose for a cross-country flight among the members, one suggested “Let’s make it a race!” and the All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race (AWTAR), affectionately dubbed the “Powder Puff Derby,” was born. You can read about it in a book by pilot and aviation author Sarah Byrn Rickman: Let’s Make a Race of It! The Story of Those Daring Women Who Flew the Powder Puff Derby, 1947-1977.

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The book includes stories from the racers and extensive technical details for each event, including the flight route. It also lists the race winners and contains photos.

General aviation at the time was in its infancy. Navigation was primarily pilotage and dead reckoning, sometimes using road maps. Most airplanes didn’t have radios yet, and GPS was decades away. 

Women from all walks of life entered the AWTAR—factory workers, students, mothers, and secretaries. They all had one thing in common—aviation.

Rickman has published seven other books about women pilots, including several biographies about the WASPs and novels that share the stories of those who served their country. Rickman said this book was inspired by her friend, Iris Critchell, a fellow Ninety-Nine who flew in the race 12 times.

“In 2018, Iris told me the story of the AWTAR…how it started, how it grew, what it was like to be part of it,” she said. “She and Alice Hammond took first place in 1957. I was fascinated.”

Rickman said Critchell made sure she had access to everything she needed to write the book but sadly did not live to see it published.

Let’s Make a Race of It! was published through a grant from The Ninety-Nines’ Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund Research Scholar Grant. Proceeds from sales of the book will go to the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship.

“The women who flew the Powder Puff Derby weren’t just racing across a continent,” said Ninety-Nines president Robin Hadfield. “They were proving, year after year, that the sky had no ceiling for women. For 30 years, they loaded their planes, plotted their courses, and raced from coast to coast with skill, determination, and no small amount of grit. The AWTAR didn’t just produce champions—it built a sisterhood. 

“Sarah’s book ensures their courage, camaraderie, and competitive spirit will never be forgotten, and as an organization founded by pilots for pilots, The Ninety-Nines are proud to bring this story to the world.”

The book is available in paperback ($24.95) and e-book ($8.99) on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and Bookshop.org.

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