|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 friends and flying buddies-Felicity, Dorothy and Lorna |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dorothy with the GG Cup (2003) with 1953 photo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1953 photo - Dorothy with the GG Cup |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dorothy with her WestJet captain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What would you hope for on your 92nd birthday?! Bet
you couldn’t come up with a better scenario than Dorothy Rungeling’s
recent birthday!
Three days before her 92nd birthday,
aviation pioneer Dorothy Rungeling received the Order of Canada from
the Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. The citation read "Once
billed as "Canada's Flying Housewife", she dared to challenge
convention and secured a place in aviation history. From her base at
the Welland Airport, she earned her pilot's licence in 1949,
followed by her commercial licence in 1951, her instructor's
certification in 1953, her senior commercial pilot's licence in 1954
and her Airline Transport Licence (ATL) in 1958. She was the first
woman in Canada to hold the ATL. In addition, she became the first
Canadian woman to conduct a solo helicopter flight. Her life-long
passion has been to promote the safety of flying when private
aviation was still in its infancy and to interest women in learning
to fly. Now in her 90s, she remains active as a writer, having
published two books in the last two years, and is an instructor of
computer skills to senior citizens."
Dorothy’s flight to Ottawa the day before the
induction was the start of another wonderful adventure for this
accomplished woman. Although Dorothy had achieved many things during
her flying, jet travel was something not yet experienced. Imagine
Dorothy’s delight in departing Hamilton in a WestJet Boeing 737,
when the pilot came out of the cockpit for a visit with passengers.
When he announced that there was a V.I.P. aboard, Dorothy was
intrigued. When he further announced that the V.I.P. was also a
pilot, followed by a request that Dorothy Rungeling identify
herself, Dorothy could not have been more surprised! How did they
know she was on board that particular plane! Little did she know but
the Ninety-Nines had been able to secretly obtain the flight info
and worked "the magic" with WestJet. The WestJet pilot went on to
tell passengers about Dorothy’s flying background, the fact that she
had never flown in a jet before, the fact that she was being
inducted into the Order of Canada in Ottawa, and the fact that she
would be turning 92! Needless to say Dorothy was up in the clouds in
more ways that one!
Upon landing, the pilot asked passengers to stay in their seats so
that Dorothy could proceed to the cockpit for a quick visit before
deplaning. It turned out that the pilot, Donald Bell, was also
WestJet’s Senior Vice-President, Customer Service – he had
specifically arranged his schedule to fit in Dorothy’s flight! Talk
about special service!
The induction ceremony at Rideau Hall went smoothly
the following afternoon, with TV cameras recording the occasion. In
the evening, all Order of Canada recipients were treated to a
sumptuous banquet. A few recipients were asked to say a few words
after the banquet – Dorothy Rungeling was one of those so honoured.
She spoke of her background, growing up in the early 1900’s with
horse-drawn carriages and the changes she had witnessed and
experienced over the decades.
Saturday morning, Dorothy had a breakfast birthday
party attended by two special aviation friends – Lorna de Blicquy
(also an Order of Canada recipient in 1995) and Felicity McKendry.
Both friends had flown with Dorothy in air rallies in the 1950s. In
Lorna’s case, she had just gotten her licence when she had a chance
to fly in a rally across the States with Dorothy. Memories of these
early days were shared, along with a "watermelon" birthday cake
created by Felicity.
Another special old aviation friend was also on hand
– the Governor General’s Cup, won twice by Dorothy in the 1950’s
(1953 and 1956). A photo opportunity resulted in a picture of
Dorothy holding onto the GG Cup along with a photo of Dorothy & Cup
taken 50 years previously!
All too soon it was time for Dorothy to depart for
home, but her birthday celebrations continued for several days.
What a role-model Dorothy Rungeling is for all
Canadians! Happy birthday, Dorothy!
