Shirley’s book, How Not to fly an Airplane, a Female Pilot’s Journey is an amazing story of aviation, life, medical challenges, a lesson on how to follow your intuition, and is filled with aviation stories of “how not to fly a plane” but mostly how you should. What is most pronounced by this memoir are the unique challenges female pilots face and the strength they gain through the flying experience. For anyone who thinks lady pilots are given a free ride, I challenge you to read this journey and you’ll change that paradigm.
The Title
When I asked Shirley where she came up with the title she said, ‘It came from the essay in the book, wishing I had told the captain to wait out the thunderstorms.” Shirley tells me that this is the most important lesson pilots need to learn… “when not to go flying,” Finding your voice as a pilot and having the confidence to know your limitations and say no, is something that will save your life and that of your passengers.
Who should read this book?
All flight instructors. All student pilots, commercial and instrument alike. Anyone who has ever faced medical challenges where doctors are practicing medicine and do not have a clue what’s going on. If you have a child born with disabilities, this is for you. If you just want to read a really good book that touches the sky and your heart, you should pick this up.
Not only does Shirley share insightful flight tips that could save your life, but she does so in a manner than resonates with pilots. She has experienced death of her friends by plane, found her voice to advocate for herself and her child, and survived all obstacles thrown her way. Nobody thought her baby had a problem. Shirley knew. No doctors believed she had a medical issue, but thought she was vying for drugs. She knew. This is a story of life, love, loss and aviation passion. A story of never giving up.
The best books we read are those that touch our hearts, leave us thinking, teach us something and make the world a better place. This is one of those stories all wrapped in one.
I am so grateful to have been gifted with the opportunity to read Shirley’s story. I hope that you will do the same. Give this book to any future pilot, your flight instructor, or those friends who face medical challenges. Life is not over when we don’t fly, or when challenges feel like mountains. Pilots never give up. They keep flying the plane.
2 Comments
Great review! I know Shirley personally. We both taught at the same small college at the same time frame. I am anxiously waiting for the book to come out so I can read it.
Doug, this book is out!! How fun to reconnect.