Highlights of Louise Sacchi's Aviation History

1939 - First Flying Lesson in June

-Private license in September

 

1940 - Flight Instructor and Ground Instructor

 

1941 - Evening Ground School at Grumman Aircraft, L.I. - 1st woman

 

1942 - Navigator Certificate, Merchant Marine School, N.Y.C.

 

1942 - Advanced Navigation Instructor to R.A.F. at the #1 British Flying Training School in Texas - 1st woman

 

1944 - Run-up mechanic, Newark Airport and night mechanic course - Casey Jones School of Aeronautics - 1st woman

 

1945 - Mechanic and engineering Asst. Navy fuel testing - Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (now Mobil) - 1st woman

 

1947 - Manager & Chief pilot of seaplane base in N.J.

 

1948 - Sold Bonanza to corporation with self as pilot - 1st woman

 

1955 - Earned Airline Transport Pilot Rating

 

1958 - Sold Aero Commander to corporation with self as pilot - 1st woman

 

1962 - Flew to Europe with Marion Hart in her Bonanza

 

1963 - Manager & Chief pilot overseas ferry company - 1st woman

 

1965 - Started Sacchi Air Ferry Enterprises (S.A.F.E.) with customers in Europe, Africa, Philippines - 1st and only woman international ferry pilot

 

1968 - Made 100th ocean crossing

 

1968 - Distinguished Service medal from Beech Aircraft Corp.

 

1971 - Set speed record for Single-engine Landplane -New York to London, which still stands - 1st woman

-Placed second (single engine class) London - Victoria Air Race

-Only woman to place Wright Brothers Memorial Award from Aero Club of Pennsylvania

 

1973 - Made 200th ocean crossing

-Narco Award for distinguished service to General Aviation

 

1975 - Delivered 85th airplane to Spanish Air Ministry

-Only woman to receive the Award of Appreciation and Honorary Wings of Spanish Air Force

 

1976 - Only woman and only foreigner to receive the Cross of Aeronautical Merit Blanca - Spanish Air Ministry

-Made 300th ocean crossing - Atlantic and Pacific

 

1978 - Street in Gander, Newfoundland, named "Sacchi Avenue"

 

1979 - Book "Ocean Flying" published by McGraw-Hill

-Silver Wings Association Woman of the Year award

-McCullough Trophy for distinguished service to aviation

-1st woman to receive the Montgomery County College Achievement award

 

1980 - Godfrey Cabot Award for distinguished service to aviation - 1st woman

-Made 340th ocean crossing (More than any other non-airline pilot)

 

1981 - American Bonanza Society award for distinguished service to aviation

 

1995 - President's Award from the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania - 1st woman

 

1997 - Louise Sacchi passed away on Saturday, March 22.