Guard Pilot Hopes to Share Female Pioneer Role
(March 23, 2009) | 
|
|
|
Army Maj. Michele P. Harper, a pilot with the
North Carolina Army National Guard's 449th Theater Aviation Brigade
out of Morrisville, N.C., prepares for takeoff in Iraq. Harper is
the only female Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the North Carolina
Army National Guard. Courtesy photo |
|
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq, March 18, 2009 – If a pilot ever finds
himself in the cockpit of a North Carolina Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk
helicopter with a female aviator, he will have no doubt who she is – there's
only one.
Army Maj. Michele P. Harper became a pioneer of the sky when she graduated from
flight school in Fort Rucker, Ala., 16 years ago, becoming the only female Black
Hawk pilot in the North Carolina Army National Guard. She's held onto the
distinction ever since, but is hopeful that will be changing soon with some
up-and-coming female pilots.
“It makes me feel good to have done something that many females have not done,”
said Harper, a Hendersonville, N.C., native. “But at the same time, I wish more
females would go for a nontraditional military role. I mean, it is flattering to say, but I
definitely would not mind flying with some females.” |
|
According to Harper, whose male colleagues tease her about women allegedly being
bad drivers, and therefore worse pilots, women are known to have better landings
because they touch down more softly.
“Females always want things to be nice and pretty, and we take that into our
flying as well,” she said. “Pilots are always complimenting me on what a nice
landing I have.”
Harper may fly Black Hawks now, but she got interested in flying with her eyes
on a much bigger ‘bird.'
“I have always and still want to be an astronaut,” said the mother of a
17-month-old son, Soren. “Before you apply to the space program, you have to be
a pilot first, and I was always at the airport getting on any aircraft that they
would let me.”
Harper is deployed to Iraq as Task Force 449 Aviation Brigade's administrative
officer. Her job consists of overseeing all personnel actions for the Task
Force, including pay issues, awards and orders.
“It's the best job,” she said. “I have an awesome staff. I love to help people,
because I am a people person.”
However, for Harper, there is no better experience than the time she spends in
the sky.
“I get to see the world,” Harper explained about her love of flying. “I get to
see so many different things that others may never see. Last night, when
everyone else was sitting in their rooms or walking around their office, I was
flying over Babylon. How many people can say that? I get the same feeling at
home flying over the Blue Ridge Mountains or on the coast. All those places that
are inaccessible in a vehicle, I see.”
Currently, two women are in training to be pilots, and if Harper gets her way,
it will not be long before she is part of an all-female mission.
“The males would not even know what to say,” Harper said with a laugh. “They are
so afraid to even have two females up front because they have never seen more
than one, but it is time to shake them up a bit.” | |
By Army Pfc. Jasmine N. Walthall
North Carolina Army National Guard's Task Force 449
Special to American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2009
Comment on this article |
|
