First female to pilot F-35

WestCoastRunner · May 11, 2015

Yes, the Oscars are all tainted. Nothing is won, it's all just given. It's politics...worse than figure skating.

Except for the fact that a woman has never won the 'best director' in a heavily male dominated category in the Oscar presentations. Is this something that shouldn't be recognized from a women's perspective?

WestCoastRunner · May 11, 2015

Some of the male members here have a real hard time giving away recognition to women for hard fought 'firsts'. I am scratching my head over this one. I am so proud to tell my daughters of these accomplishments and I don't want to introduce the male individuals who try to diminish the female accomplishments.

Edited May 11, 2015 by WestCoastRunner

Michael Hardner · May 11, 2015

What do you mean by celebrate? Do I hold an annual party in honour of past achievements? No.

Do you acknowledge the milestones for Black Americans ? What's the difference between that and acknowledging a gender breakthrough ? Do you have criteria for such things, or do you just react intuitively ?

WestCoastRunner · May 11, 2015

Do you acknowledge the milestones for Black Americans ? What's the difference between that and acknowledging a gender breakthrough ? Do you have criteria for such things, or do you just react intuitively ?

The only thing he acknowledges has nothing to do with women.

Hal 9000 · May 11, 2015

Except for the fact that a woman has never won the 'best director' in a heavily male dominated category in the Oscar presentations. Is this something that shouldn't be recognized from a women's perspective?

It's fine that she was rewarded for her hard work, but you do know how the Academy works, don't you?

I'm interested in the first woman to climb Everest or the K2, swim the english channel, fly a plane etc. I think it's amazing what some women did back in the day. The woman in question, I applaud for flying a military jet, not for being a woman flying a military jet.

Wilber · May 11, 2015

Perhaps you should learn that the past did not begin in the 20th century. Men only got the vote about a century before women did. Before that, almost everyone didn't have rights, male or female.

So what, men still controlled the money and called the shots. Married women couldn't own property, as soon as they married, any property they owned became their husbands. They couldn't hold public office or get custody of her own children. Until a year ago, a woman couldn't even be monarch unless there were no male heirs.

Quite a bit, actually, but that isn't relevant to this thread.

Really. I'm tired of whiny white males who complain about discrimination. Sure, they might have been refused a particular job because of affirmative action but that hasn't excluded them from a profession or anything else. They have no clue what real discrimination is. I'm a white male about as WASP as you can get and I say balls.

Edited May 11, 2015 by Wilber

WestCoastRunner · May 11, 2015

So what, men still controlled the money and called the shots. Married women couldn't own property, as soon as they married, any property they owned became their husbands. They couldn't hold public office or get custody of her own children. Until a year ago, a woman couldn't even be monarch unless there were no male heirs.

Really. I'm tired of whiny white males who complain about discrimination. Sure, they might have been refused a particular job because of affirmative action but that hasn't excluded them from a profession or anything else. They have no clue what real discrimination is. I'm a white male about as WASP as you can get and I say balls.

Thank you Wilbur. It gets tiring to constantly defend women's rights against so many men. It's great to have men speak up once in a while to support our rights.

Edited May 11, 2015 by WestCoastRunner

Hal 9000 · May 11, 2015

Thank you Wilbur. It gets tiring to constantly defend women's rights against so many men. It's great to have men speak up once in a while to support our rights.

Give it a rest, you're not defending women's rights. You think we should all be falling over the accomplishments of a military pilot for the simple reason that she's a woman. All we're saying is that women flying jets is nothing new, and you can't handle that. What is new that we should be celebrating?

In 1944 Ann Baumgartner became the first U.S. woman to fly an experimental jet airplane. She reached speeds of 350 mph and altitudes up to 35,000 feet.

1953 Jacqueline Cochran (USA) became the first woman to break the sound barrier (in a Northrop T-38).

WestCoastRunner · May 11, 2015

Give it a rest, you're not defending women's rights. You think we should all be falling over the accomplishments of a military pilot for the simple reason that she's a woman. All we're saying is that women flying jets is nothing new, and you can't handle that. What is new that we should be celebrating?

In 1944 Ann Baumgartner became the first U.S. woman to fly an experimental jet airplane. She reached speeds of 350 mph and altitudes up to 35,000 feet.

1953 Jacqueline Cochran (USA) became the first woman to break the sound barrier (in a Northrop T-38).

give it a rest!

WestCoastRunner · May 11, 2015

Why on earth do I bother trying to bring women's accomplishments and issues to this forum. It's simply ridiculous the bs I put up with. I'm done with this forum.

Wilber · May 11, 2015

Give it a rest, you're not defending women's rights. You think we should all be falling over the accomplishments of a military pilot for the simple reason that she's a woman. All we're saying is that women flying jets is nothing new, and you can't handle that. What is new that we should be celebrating?

In 1944 Ann Baumgartner became the first U.S. woman to fly an experimental jet airplane. She reached speeds of 350 mph and altitudes up to 35,000 feet.

1953 Jacqueline Cochran (USA) became the first woman to break the sound barrier (in a Northrop T-38).

I look at it more like a woman getting a ride on a F1 team. That happened before as well. 40 years ago. I guess once every forty years equals equality to you.

poochy · May 11, 2015

Yea I get that. Your point?

So you think the f35 is so difficult to fly that a woman flying it is an accomplishment? It isn't, there are many very capable female pilots, its no big deal.

poochy · May 11, 2015

You guys seem more hell bent on distracting female accomplishments. That's ok with me except I'm going to broadcast these accomplishments to my daughters and future grand daughters. Do you guys have a problem with this?

Should I not mention these female accomplishments in a male dominated industry?

What if one of my daughters wanted to be a fighter pilot? Should I ignore this rather fabulous milestone?

It is an individual accomplishment, which as history has shown, is irrelevant to her gender, which btw is exactly the way you should want people to react, but you clearly don't understand what you think you stand for.

On Guard for Thee · May 11, 2015

This is purely anecdotal and I can imagine what will rain down, but on this particular Sunday I will throw caution to the wind. It was many year ago but my first ever instructor when I decided to enter rotary wing training, after fixed wing, was a woman. Up to that moment my experience with aviation was that it was pretty much a men's club. She was one damn good instructor. I was raised by a single mother whose abilities in that role had already created a great sense of respect. Being shown how to do a successful autorotation only enhanced it.

Hal 9000 · May 11, 2015

Why on earth do I bother trying to bring women's accomplishments and issues to this forum. It's simply ridiculous the bs I put up with. I'm done with this forum.

Look, this pilot flew the US's new toy - great! I hope she kills many a terrorist with it and returns home safely. Is it newsworthy? I guess, in the same sense that anything to do with the new jets and the pilots flying them makes news - be it Israelis, Brits, US men and women. But, if you're talking (and you always are) about oppression, gender equality, barriers and women's firsts - you're way too late on this one.

Hal 9000 · May 11, 2015

I look at it more like a woman getting a ride on a F1 team. That happened before as well. 40 years ago. I guess once every forty years equals equality to you.

First off, if another woman gets an F1 ride, she won't be the first - that's kinda the point.

Secondly, when it comes to racing - especially F1, the drivers must compete on equal footing for their job - affirmative action shouldn't and won't factor in. If a woman ever gets a ride in F1, I'll cheer her on.

poochy · May 11, 2015

It's a significant event, I don't know how I can explain that further. It *signifies*, marks, indicates, signals, reflects changes that continue in our society. Nobody celebrates a lady cop anymore, because that's commonplace.

Yea, cuz flying f15's is easy, honestly, are you purposefully contrary or just obtuse? Women can fly jet combat aircraft, as i said, and you quoted, this isn't new, and doesn't need to be celebrated as though it is, and while i don't know, I would bet the f15 is harder to fly that the f35. But go ahead, take 'correct' side of the argument even if there is absolutely no need for it. Hey, i saw a woman driving a car today, and she didn't hit anything, good job all women, or is that something we can stop saying now because we know that women can drive? It used to be that only men drove and operated heavy equipment, now women are doing it more and more, and it seems they might be as good an operator and easier on the equipment, but i guess the next time a woman jumps into a newer, bigger dump truck for the first time we all should celebrate, lets all pat her on the head while we are at at and tell her how impressive it is that her gender accomplished the thing that they already accomplished.

poochy · May 11, 2015

Because I feel that women pilots are a natural thing, you twist that to pretend that I'm threatened - wow dude, have another drink of kool-aid.

This is a typical tactic of that poster, he will make up an argument for you and then condemn you for it, i think there is a word for that sort of arguing.

Wilber · May 11, 2015

First off, if another woman gets an F1 ride, she won't be the first - that's kinda the point.

Secondly, when it comes to racing - especially F1, the drivers must compete on equal footing for their job - affirmative action shouldn't and won't factor in. If a woman ever gets a ride in F1, I'll cheer her on.

Boudicca lead an army to.

You think a woman can get a job flying a F-35 through affirmative action?

poochy · May 11, 2015

I suspect these questions, comments may arise from attitudes which are a little hesitant about women pushing back those gender barriers, contrary to how they may try to say otherwise.

I am. And my image is of right wing men trying to hold on to some weird bastion of the old boys club, but trying desperately to make it appear as though they are actually open minded. .

And imagine you just making up other peoples opinions for them, nah, not you, never. The problem is, some of us have just evolved past you, but you still think we are fighting the old fights, when we really just don't care what individual women do with themselves and the equality they have, no more than i care about what you do.

Edited May 11, 2015 by poochy

poochy · May 11, 2015

So then be happy for this lady and move on.

We are, it was suggested this was an accomplishment for her gender, it isn't, it's ever so complicated.

Smallc · May 11, 2015

It's like to some on this forum, you're not allowed to have an opinion on things, unless it's the 'right' opinion.

Let her fly her plane. Leave her alone. She doesn't need a pat on the back for something she does every day.

Edited May 11, 2015 by Smallc

On Guard for Thee · May 11, 2015

We are, it was suggested this was an accomplishment for her gender, it isn't, it's ever so complicated.

I dont see it as very complicated at all. I see some strange attempts to make it so though.

Wilber · May 11, 2015

And imagine you just making up other peoples opinions for them, nah, not you, never. The problem is, some of us have just evolved past you, but you still think we are fighting the old fights, when we really just don't care what women do with themselves and the equality they have, no more than i care about what you do.

Maybe women care. This isn't about you.