The Wings of the North Air Museum at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie will celebrate the 114th anniversary of Madame Elise Raymonde de LaRoche of France becoming the first woman to receive a government-issued pilot’s license on Saturday, March 16.
The museum will be open for free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day, and the first 20 children aged 12 or younger will receive a free toy airplane.
From noon to 1:30 p.m., three spokespersons will be on hand to help tell the story of women pilots:
- Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Caroline “Blaze” Jensen, the third woman ever selected to fly as a member of the USAF Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team. Jensen, who was Thunderbird No. 3 and flew right wing in the supersonic F-16 “Fighting Falcon,” will be inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame in October.
- Cheri Rohlfing, an Airbus A320 captain with Delta Airlines and an adjunct professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Department of Aviation. She is active in aviation outreach and mentorship with several youth education programs throughout the state, including MN ACE Camp, Women in Aviation, and MSUM student organizations. Rohlfing will be inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in April.
- Danielle Hemmingsen, a well-known local Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) reenactor. In World War II, WASPs provided invaluable service to the U.S. war effort and were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2006.
WOTN Air Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, and it is available for private tours and parties at other times.
It is situated at 14857 Pioneer Trail in Eden Prairie, accessible through Gate H at the northwest corner of Flying Cloud Airport. Upon arrival, visitors can follow the instructions provided at the call box for entry and then proceed according to the signs directing them to the museum.
For more information, visit the Wings of the North website.
Wings of the North is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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