Airshow gives props to women aviators


 

 

The theme of the 2022 Wings Over Camarillo Airshow, set for tomorrow and Sunday, Aug. 20 and 21 at the Camarillo Airport, honors the accomplishments of women in aviation.

Two distinguished local female aviators will lead the event as grand marshals: CDR Colette Lazenka and Martha Phillips.

Lazenka is the commanding officer of the VX-30 Bloodhounds unit at Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu and the first woman appointed to the role.

Phillips is past president of The Ninety-Nines Inc., International Organization of Women Pilots, a more than 6,000 member organization founded in 1929 with Amelia Earhart as the first president.

At the airshow, the Ventura County Chapter of The Ninety Nines Inc. will debut an exhibit in the Commemorative Air Force Museum hanger titled Notable Women in Aviation.

The exhibit will feature trailblazing aviatrixes, including Bessie Coleman and Southern California fly girls Amelia Earhart, Pancho Barnes and Jackie Cochran.

The display includes a timeline of women’s firsts in aviation history, beginning with Jeanne Labrosse of France, the first woman to pilot any aircraft (a balloon) solo in 1798, and ending with Jessica Watkins, the first African American female astronaut at the International Space Station 2022.

Entry to the Notable Women in Aviation exhibit is included with airshow admission.

For tickets to the airshow, go to wingsovercamarillo.com.