Author Mary Shipko

Welcome, Mary,

I’ve known Mary for about five years now. Not only are we critique partners but we’ve become good friends. Her husband Gary and my partner, Michael, we get together on occasion in Yorktown and have dinner. 

Your 1^st book is a memoir, which I loved reading titled, Aviatrix- First Woman Pilot for Hughes Airwest. And congrats, the last time I checked, you had 604 reviews on Amazon!

Where are you from and how did you get into loving airplanes? I grew up in an aviation family in South Florida. My dad was a small business owner, he owned a small airport it had a grass strip with a hanger and an area for airplanes to tie down. He did all kinds of services working on planes giving flight lessons flying people to local destinations. The Bahamas was a popular destination. There were six of us kids in the family. After school and on the weekends, we would spend a lot of time at the airport. Eventually the county asked my dad to move to the main airport. So, he moved his business over to Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International. He would always say that he named this airport. The county commission wanted to call it Broward County Airport, but my dad said, well no one knows where that is and suggested the name they have today. So as each of us kids became old enough, my dad would give us all flight lessons.

When did you decide to become an airline pilot: From a very young age when my brothers talked about being an airline pilot, I wanted to be one too. But there were no women airline pilots. My brothers assured me I could not be one. When I was 16 my dad taught me to fly. It’s easy to love flying, especially when you’re just 16. It is just such a thrill to get in an airplane, get out to the on the runway and shove the power levers up, you roar down the runway, no speed limit, and as you pull up, watch the earth fall away, and with it all your cares. You are free.  It was one of the highlights of the week to take a lesson. Flying uses almost every aptitude a human being has—physical skill, emotional control, 3-dimensional problem-solving. That’s what makes flying so much fun. A flight well done is a confidence booster.  It was natural to want to be an airline pilot, since it was the best paid job in flying.

What obstacles did you encounter being the first female airline pilot? There were many obstacles to being one of the first women airline pilots. Acceptance was slow. Few people outside your family thought you should be flying. It was very hard to find work. I used to drive around the airport looking for work early in the morning. Most days I was told NO, but. eventually someone said yes. That morning my luck finally changed. After that I was able to get enough experience to be considered for an airline job. While there was not a lot of support for myself or other women today it’s very different today. The airline cockpit is a welcoming place for women pilots.

What lessons did you learn and wish to share with other women who might have the same dream of becoming a pilot?I learned that having an extensive background to draw upon is very useful. Start reading now to build your background, read biographies, history books, memoirs, technical books. Get a mentor. A mentor is invaluable, today many organizations have mentors to help guide and support women who want to be airline pilots.

Tell us about your other books. I have two other books. A children’s picture book, Daring Mary Aviation Pioneer it depicts the turning points in my flying career that led up to being hired by the airline. It is beautifully illustrated, with many of the planes I flew. There is an important appendix for someone who wants to be an airline pilot, a girl, or a boy. 

My other book is my newest is The Firsts Women Pilots and how they changed the airlines. I wrote this book to both celebrate, and inspire. It celebrates the early pioneers and inspires young women to become airline pilots, there’s been so many wonderful changes over the last 50 years in the airline industry I wanted to let people know it’s nothing like when I first went to the airline. Being an airline pilot is a rewarding job, it is a combination of adventure and technical expertise. 

Can you tell us what you are working on now? I spend a lot of time marketing my books. I speak for free at organizations. I will be speaking at Airventure in Oshkosh Wisconsin this summer. and I will also give a presentation at the Williamsburg library October 19 at 2 PM. Contact me if you would like me to speak at your organization.

New writing projects I would say, I have a few irons in the fire.

All Mary’s books are available Amazon.

Contact Mary: shipkobush@gmail.com

Mary, Congrats on your success!

My monthly book giveaway: If you are interested in winning a free book message me on Instagram @LeslieEvaTayloe.