Helen Richey

The pioneer set an endurance record and was the first woman commercial airline pilot.

SHALYN MARCHETTI

It was like “wrestling a cobra in a hurricane,” Helen Richey said. After nearly 10 days in the skies over Miami in December 1933, Richey, alongside fellow aviatrix Frances Marsalis, set the women’s in-flight fueling endurance record of 237 hours and 42 minutes. It was only one of Richey’s major accomplishments, yet it perfectly showcased her grit, determination, and, above all, skill that would make hers a name every pilot should know. Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, in 1909, Richey was the youngest of five siblings. She could frequently be found outside, watching post office airplanes flying overhead. It was those aircraft that introduced Richey to aviation, as she took her first ride in between stacks of letters on their way to Cleveland. “I’m going to fly,” Richey was quoted telling…

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Plane & Pilot (Digital) - 1 Issue, January/February 2024

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