History of The 99s

Our History - 1929 to Today

The organization was founded November 2, 1929, at Curtiss Field, Valley Stream, Long Island, New York. All 117 women pilots at the time were invited to assemble for mutual support, the advancement of aviation and to create a central office to keep files on women in aviation. Louise Thaden was elected Secretary and worked to keep the group together as they struggled to establish themselves and to grow. Those early purposes continue to guide the organization today.

Twenty-six women gathered at Curtiss Airport, Valley Stream, New York. Business was conducted in a hangar above the din of a Curtiss Challenger engine running up as the work of the mechanics proceeded around them. Tea was served from a toolbox wagon on wheels.

Eligibility and purpose were quickly decided upon. Membership would be open to any woman with a pilot's license, and the purpose was "good fellowship, jobs, and a central office and files on women in aviation." Choosing a name was a little harder. Some suggestions were: The Climbing Vines, Noisy Birdwomen, Homing Pigeons and Gadflies.

Amelia Earhart and Jean Davis Hoyt put a stop to the nonsense, proposing the name be taken from the sum total of charter members. In 1931, Amelia Earhart was elected the first President, and the group selected the name "Ninety-Nines" to represent the 99 charter members. Membership was immediately opened to other women as they became licensed pilots. In recent years membership has been opened to include women with student pilot certificates.

Each member was an outstanding person in her own right. They made contributions to aviation totally out of proportion to their numbers.

Song of the Ninety-Nines ©

Written in 1941 by Dick Ballou, the song was adopted as The Ninety-Nines official song during the annual business meeting held July 5, 1941 in Albuquerque, NM and copyright issued in 1941. The song is performed by Donna Cox with piano accompaniment by Kayla Paulk.

Lyrics are:

"In the air, everywhere,
It's the song of The Ninety-Nines.
Wings in Flight,
Day and Night,
with the Song of The Ninety-Nines;
On the line,
fliers fine,
ships and spirits tuned in rhyme,
Keep that formation
over the nation
with the song of The Ninety-Nines."

99s Museum of Women Pilots

Women's flying heritage is filled with dynamic personalities who have charted the course to modern aviation.

Walk through the history of women in aviation from the earliest flights to the present day and enjoy permanent exhibits on famous women pilots.

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Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum

The Ninety-Nines owns and manages the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison, Kansas. In 1984 the organization began fully restoring the 1850's Victorian structure. Today, a visit to the Birthplace Museum will transport you back to the era when Amelia lived there.

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