Girls in Aviation Day Soars at Sebring Airport
Sebring Regional Airport recently welcomed a new generation of aviation enthusiasts during the annual Girls Fly Now / Girls in Aviation Day, an event designed to introduce young students to careers in flight, aerospace, and STEM.
Women have been piloting aircraft nearly as long as airplanes have existed. In 1910, Elise Raymonde Deroche became the first licensed female pilot — just seven years after the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight. That pioneering spirit was alive and well on the Sebring ramp.
JoAnne Alcorn of Polk County, who flies the “City of Winter Park” Cessna 172R in the 2,500-mile Air Race Classic, spoke to the students about drag, lift, and the forces that govern flight. The Air Race Classic traces its roots back to the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, which included aviation legend Amelia Earhart as well as Louise Thaden and Pancho Barnes.
Young attendees from the Boys & Girls Club of Highlands County rotated through hands-on learning stations led by female pilots, Civil Air Patrol cadets, and aviation leaders.
“It’s important for pilots to learn these forces, how the aircraft will react, and the response at the controls,” explained pilot Shira Ellsworth. “If you don’t understand these forces, you can put the aircraft in a stall.”
Students explored aviation charts, learned about airspace boundaries, and even built their own balsa-wood airplanes. Civil Air Patrol cadets demonstrated how pilots navigate terrain, airport frequencies, and restricted areas.
“This helps get them prepared for a possible career as a pilot in aerospace — not just commercial or military, but space exploration,” said Lt. Stephen Armentrout. “The world needs more pilots.”
The event was supported by members of the Highlands Ninety-Nines, the international organization of licensed women pilots founded in 1929 with Amelia Earhart as its first president.
“We’ve been doing a girls aviation day since 2018,” said Janice Rearick, CEO of the Highlands County Boys & Girls Club. “It’s heavy on academics — and still fun.”
Sebring Regional Airport is proud to serve as a hub not only for aviation activity, but for workforce development and community inspiration. With pilot shortages projected nationwide, events like this play an important role in cultivating the next generation of aerospace professionals. Read the Mid Florida Newspaper Coverage
