THE FLY GIRL Ruth Nichols

Ruth Rowland Nichols was a pioneer of early aviation, the only woman yet to hold simultaneous world records for speed, altitude, and distance, the first woman to attempt a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, the founder of the Relief Wings branch of the Civil Air Patrol and one of the most famous pilots of the 1930’s (even more famous than her friend and rival Amelia Earhart). Her courage and daring made her a national icon, but she is barely remembered now by the country that once praised her as its most famous “fly girl.”

Our guest is Keith O’Brien, New York Times Bestselling Author of Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History.

Thanks to Highbridge Audio for generously allowing us to use excerpts from the Fly Girls audiobook, read by Erin Bennett.

A full transcript of this episode is available here.

Ruth Nichols in front of her plane — Ruth Nichols in front of The Akita, the plane she would use to attempt to fly across the Atlantic
Courtesy of the International Women’s Air & Space Museum, Cleveland, Ohio

Ruth Nichols in her warm flight gear and fur cap — Ruth Nichols 1931
Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Ruth Nichols in front of her Crosley Radio plane — Ruth Nichols standing in front of plane labeled Crosley Radio Corp
Courtesy of Jeff Nichols

Ruth Nichols in front of her plane as she begins her flight across the Atlantic — Famous pilots Clarence Chamberlin, left, and Wiley Post, right, see Ruth Nichols off on her transatlantic attempt
Courtesy of Jeff Nichols

Ruth Nichol's pilot's license — Ruth Nichols’ pilot’s license—signed by pioneer Orville Wright
Courtesy of Jeff Nichols

Ruth Nichols on the front cover of a New York paper — Cover photo of New York Evening Graphic, 15 February 1932
Ruth Nichols after breaks altitude record

Amelia Earhart, Ruth Nichols, and Louise Thaden in front of a plane — Amelia Earhart, Ruth Nichols, and Louise Thaden seated together on a car
Courtesy of Thaden Family Collection

Ruth Nichols' plane after the crash in Canada — Ruth Nichols crashes in St. John, New Brunswick
Courtesy of Leslie Jones Collection, Boston Public Library

A large group of female pilots stands on an airfield — Some of the competitors in the first-ever women’s air derby, stopping in East St. Louis, Ill., in August 1929. From left to right: Mary Elizabeth von Mach, Jessie “Chubbie” Miller, Gladys O’Donnell, Thea Rasche, Phoebe Omlie, Louise Thaden, Amelia Earhart, Blanche Noyes, Ruth Elder and Vera Walker.
Courtesy of St. Louis University Libraries

A large crowd gathered on the edge of an airfield. — Roughly 20,000 people watched the start of the National Women’s Air Derby in Santa Monica in August 1929
Courtesy of Thaden Family Collection

Keith O'Brien author of Fly Girls — photo by Erik Jacobs

New York Times Bestselling author Keith O’Brien is a former reporter for the Boston Globe and a frequent contributor to National Public Radio. His work has appeared on shows such as All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and This American Life. He has also written for the New York Times Magazine, Politico, and Slate, and is the author of Outside Shot: Big Dreams, Hard Times, and One County’s Quest for Basketball Greatness. He lives in New Hampshire.

THE FLY GIRL Ruth Nichols

Music featured in this episode includes

Your purchases help support the podcast!