Nellie Zabel Willhite First Deaf Female Pilot By:

Transcript:Nellie Zabel Willhite First Deaf Female Pilot By::
Nellie Zabel Willhite First Deaf Female Pilot By: Sierra Marler Table of contents Slide 1. Childhood and Education Slide 2. Personal Life Slide 3. Career in Aviation Slide 4. Retirement and Death Slide 5. Accomplishments Slide 6. Video Slide 7. Work Cited Childhood and Education Eleanor “Nellie” Zabel was born hearing on November 22, 1892 to Lillian and Charles Zabel Nellie was an only child growing up on a ranch in Box Elder, South Dakota At the age of two, Nellie catches the measles and becomes permanently deaf After her mother died, her father enrolled her at the State School for the Deaf in Sioux Falls at the age of seven She stayed and lived with foster parents, Dr. Leonard C and Dollie Mead of Yankton Her foster parents tutored her while attending school and taught her how to read lips Personal Life Met Dr. Frank V. Willhite at school. Was married for a short lived amount of time After school, worked in Pierre and Sioux Falls as a Stenographer at the airfield At work, she met an aviation instructor who suggested she attend aviation school and learn to fly In 1927, at the age of 34, Nellie began her pursuit to fly After her first solo flight, her father bought her a OX-5 Eaglerock biplane for $2700. She named the plane “PARD” after her father “Even though I couldn’t hear the engine roar, I could tell right away if anything was wrong – just from the vibrations” –Nellie Copyright 1993 by the S. Dakota State Historical Society. Career Once receiving her pilot’s license, Nellie earned her living as a Barnstormer doing air shows, races, and tours Frequently made headlines as the only woman participating in shows and for her tight, fast maneuvering techniques Worked at Renner Air Service in Sioux Falls were she flew passengers, as well as managed the office In 1934, while working at Renner Air Service, Nellie received a commercial pilot’s license on top of her private license Became the first and only deaf person to carry airmail after receiving her commercial pilot license Finishing her career as airmail carrier, Nellie retired her wings in 1944 at the age of 52 South Dakota Magazine Retirement and Death Even in retirement, Nellie put her aviation knowledge to work She would help plan national air races for woman flyers With the advent of WWII, Nellie became a ground