The Navy’s Blue Angels are a tradition at the Marine Corps Beaufort Air Show in South Carolina and many other air shows. This particular 2015 show though, which took place earlier this month, was a historical milestone. Yes, it was the first time that a female pilot flew with the Blue Angels! Her name is Katie Higgins, and she is inspirational!
Who is Pilot Katie Higgins?
Katie Higgins is a Marine Corps Captain who explained recently to CBS News that she watched the Blue Angels fly when she was a child. Ironically, she was quoted as saying she was inspired by watching the planes in flight. Now here she is as the inspiration – awesome!
Higgins comes from a long line of military aviators; there are three generations, to be exact. Her father flew the F-18 Hornet, which is part of the Blue Angels squadron.
Inspiration as Blue Angels’ First Female Pilot
Think of all of the people that Katie Higgins inspires by being the first female pilot on the Blue Angels. There are people of all ages watching her, thinking wow I can go into aviation or do whatever else is my dream. She is an inspirational woman in particular by showing females of any age that you can do anything you set your mind to, regardless of gender.
While females have been sitting in American cockpits for about 20 years now, it is the first time that the Blue Angels have had a female pilot. I thank Katie Higgins for the wonderful example she sets for young girls who are dreaming about what their careers will be as an adult. If someone says to them, nah, gals can’t be military pilots, they can respond by saying, well what about the Blue Angels, they have a female pilot!
On Future Female Firsts as Pilots and Otherwise
I do want to say though that I think it will be a wonderful day when it doesn’t make news anymore that there is a woman being first at this or that. It will be nice when the “firsts” for females are in our past, and instead, we commend someone for being excellent at what they do rather than something related to their gender.
What I do think is cool is that if anyone were to watch the Blue Angels aviation show, they probably would not be able to tell which plane had Katie Higgins as the pilot. Why? That is because she maneuvers it just like everyone else on the team.
Yes, the Blue Angels transcend gender bias, and it would not be a complete team without Katie Higgins. Women fly planes, work on jet engines, fly in the military, and head to space. People are pilots for a range of reasons, such as loving the thrill of flight and the feeling of freedom. Regardless of the answer to why someone becomes a pilot, it is great to know that you can be one without your gender being a barrier.
Note: Thank you Michelle of BOOK CHAT for telling me about Katie Higgins. If she had not told me, I might have missed learning about this exciting milestone.
Also: You can see photos of the 2015 MCAS Beaufort Air Show online, which is cool, as well as Blue Angels’ upcoming appearance schedule of air shows.
I am always happy to see women make new strides and achievements!
Katie, wish you blue skies all the way!
Hi Christy, hope you are having a wonderful summer.
Cool lady! Cool article! Thanks for sharing these inspirational stories Christy.
Here you go Christy. Buckle up your seat belt :D <3
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https://youtu.be/7FYJFZOXWiM
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Awww Ralph!! :) Flying high!
Her story is really interesting. She chose not to fly in the display team but opted to fly the Blue Angels C-130 as she has a lot of fun with it. She has her own display and is flying this.
That’s great Christy, I think the Blue Angels must be like our Red Arrows – I looked them up to see if they had a female pilot and the first one joined in 2009 – though it appears she’s now left after getting engaged to another member of the team. You’re right though, when will it ever stop being news that a woman is the first?
That is neat about the Red Arrows, Andrea. One day women will be equals, one fabulous day!
Thanks for another introduction to empowering women here Christy. Move over Amelia Earhart :)
Yes, totally!! Thanks sweet Deb <3
<3
I have watched the Blue Angels many times…
I wanted to be a pilot when I was in the Army, back then there were only 3,
but no depth perception, near-sighted in one eye,far-sighted in the other does not
qualify you :)
yes she is a wonderful inspiration, I enjoyed reading about her, I didn’t know they had a female pilot,
Thank you for sharing her with us
Take Care…You Matter…
)0(
maryrose
Hello Mary Rose, it’s so nice to read your beautiful comment here after looking through the wonderful poems you write! Thank you for enjoying the post and sharing your own dreams of being a pilot. I hope you at least get to fly above the clouds in your mind ((Hugs!))
Great post and share ~ the Blue Angels are indeed a tremendous group of pilots and it is very cool to hear that Katie is the first female and that adds to the allure that much more. Cheers!
Slowly but with small steps, women kick through the doors and the glass ceilings. Thanks for this one.
Anyone wanna tell Semra that Blue Angels are a display team not a fighting/dog war name!!
English is her second language :) I will reply to her for sure.
I’ve seen the Blue Angels once, they are amazing. Congratulations to Katie Higgins! And thank you, Christy, for sharing this wonderful story with us :)
Graciela, you are always uplifting and I thank you for taking time here! I’m pleased you liked the story. I’m going to reveal the beautiful book cover later this week or next week xxoo
Kudos Katie Higgins. to A big step taken for future female Blue Angels and I agree, “…it will be a wonderful day when it doesn’t make news anymore that there is a woman being first at this or that.” <3 <3
I’m so glad you picked up on that part of the post <3
When said like that, it’s like ‘the first woman to’ is being made an example obvious to fail. Okay, little lady, let’s see what you’re made of. Ugh.
Wonderful post. Loved reading this.
Thank you, Shey!! :)
Thanks so much for the mention, Christy. You did an awesome job bringing bringing this story to light. Hugs, my sweet friend.
I am glad you think I did a good job highlighting her accomplishments, M. Thank you, sweetie <3
Great wings, Katie Higgins! Good job, Christy. :-) This is inspiring, a soaring achievement.
Soaring, indeed! Great to see you, Mark!
The Blue Angels were in Corpus Christi this weekend!
Awesome! Did you see them? :)
How cool is that?! Go Katie Higgins…such an inspiration that we achieve our dreams!
Yes, exactly!! :D
I hate war.We are the children of Adam (AS.).I pray for peace in a world because we all feel love, pain, and goodness…Praying for peace all over the world inşaAllah … May Allah protect us all. <3
Say, "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. [He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason."Surat Al-'An`am [6:151]
Semra, This post was about Blue Angels, which is a display team rather than a team of warfare <3 Peace to all!
I just saw this documentary on woman who were female plots,in the war,now I don’t remember which one it was but there was one woman who really did fly but they wouldn’t let her,she did do some incredible work with planes,I wish I could remember her name,the whole story of these woman was really interesting and inspiring
As always Sheldon
It does sound like a great documentary, Sheldon!
That is truly inspiring! Many of us understand the giant hurdles she had to cross just because of her gender. Excellent! Huge hugs.
Gender bias goes bye-bye! H-U-G-S!
Wow, it should not surprise us when women make such huge contributions…I recently saw a young woman who was black hawk pilot in Afghanistan. Very inspiring!
Oh wow, that IS a great accomplishment!!