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1964 Press Photo Mrs.Jerrie Mock first woman to Solo flight around the world.  Image by an unknown author (UPI) –

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Jerrie Mock

Jerrie Mock was an American aviator who achieved several remarkable accomplishments throughout her life. She made history in 1964 by becoming the first woman to fly solo around the world. While there were other female pilots who had made significant achievements in aviation prior to Jerrie Mock’s flight, such as Amelia Earhart and Jacqueline Cochran, none had flown solo around the world. Her achievement was therefore truly ground-breaking and helped to inspire many young women to pursue careers in aviation. She continued to fly and advocate for women in aviation throughout her life, serving as a mentor and inspiration to many young pilots. She passed away on September 30, 2014, at the age of 88. Her legacy as a pioneering aviator and trailblazer for women in aviation lives on to this day.

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1. Her father nurtured her flying dream

1964 Press Photo Jerrie Mock 1st woman to fly around the globe alone (with her father). Image by an  unknown author (UPI) –

Parents take on a major role in molding their young ones’ future. Mock was born on a farm in Ohio. Her father John Lowell “Jack” Coleman owned a small airplane, which played a significant role in inspiring her love of aviation. He often took his young daughter on his weekend flying trips allowing her to even take the controls of the airplane. He did not even for second think that the father-daughter moments would spark a passion for flying. Further from that, the childhood experience instilled confidence and determination in the 7-year-old. Her father is the reason she dared dream of becoming a pilot and then going to take on a solo flight around the world.

2. Her husband was also a pilot

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As fate would have it, Mock fell in love and, married a World War II pilot who was her high school sweetheart. They bore three children. They were a close couple. They not only shared a flying passion but all other aspects of their lives. Rusell Mock was an integral part of her dream of becoming a pilot. He encouraged her, taught her how to fly a plane, helped her plan her route, became her biggest fan throughout the journey, and even helped to repair her aircraft when it suffered mechanical problems. His death in 2010 left her very devastated and she died four years later having lost the love of her life.

3. She acquired a pilot license after only two years

It may come as a shock that the woman who flew all alone around the world got her license after two years! She started her lessons in 1956 and in 1958 she got her private license. The private license allowed her to pilot to fly solo or with passengers, but not for commercial purposes. In 1962, she acquired her commercial pilot’s license and instrument rating. The commercial pilot’s license allowed her to fly for hire and make a living as a pilot, while the instrument rating enabled her to fly in adverse weather conditions using instruments. Despite her relatively short flying experience, of about 7 years, she demonstrated great skill and courage in completing the challenging journey around the globe.

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4. Mock was the first woman to fly solo around the world

Cessna 180 鈥楴1538C鈥� 鈥淪pirit of Columbus鈥�. Image by Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK –

Mock set out to make history, as the first woman to fly solo around the world. It was not for fame but it was to inspire her generation of women to break away from barriers.  She accomplished this feat in 1964, flying a single-engine Cessna 180 named The Spirit of Columbus for a total distance of 23,103 miles. Despite the obstacles she faced, she successfully completed her journey on April 17, 1964. Her achievement was a significant milestone in the history of aviation and inspired many women to pursue careers in the field.

5. Her trip around the world took 29 days

Mock’s trip around the world took almost a month. She departed from Columbus, Ohio, on March 19, 1964, and returned on April 17, 1964. Her journey took 29 days, 21 hours, and 47 minutes. During this, she made stops in Bermuda, the Azores, Casablanca, Cairo, Karachi, Calcutta, Bangkok, Manila, Guam, and Honolulu.

6. Mock faced many problems during her historic trip around the world

She faced many challenges along the way, including mechanical problems, turbulent weather, navigation issues, communication problems, and cultural barriers. However, she overcame all to become the first woman to fly solo around the world. Despite these challenges, she persevered and successfully completed her journey around the world. She showed great courage, determination, and skill, becoming the first woman to fly solo around the world.

7. She was nicknamed the “flying housewife”

It was an era that saw women as housewives and homemakers. Mock was done being a housewife. The 38-year-old mother of three wanted to follow her dreams even if it meant being a pioneer. Her decision to attempt the journey around the world was met with skepticism by some who believed that a “housewife” was not capable of such a feat. The media nicknamed her the “Flying Housewife” during her historic flight around the world. It was unconventional for a housewife to take on such a challenge. However, Mock’s determination and skill in completing the journey proved her critics wrong. She became a symbol of female empowerment, demonstrating that women were capable of achieving great things outside of traditional gender roles.

Read more on 15 Interesting Facts About Amelia Earhart

8. Her world trip was a 鈥榬ace鈥�

While Jerrie was making preparations to go on the solo world trip, another woman by the name of Joan Merriman Smith was also making the same plans. When Jerrie became aware of this, she accelerated her preparations and set off during the same week. The two created a frenzy that made the media turn it into some sought of race. Jerrie completed the flight first making her the first woman to go on a solo world flight. However, Smith also had several firsts in her name including being the youngest woman to complete a solo flight around the world. Both women served as an inspiration to all the other women in their generation.

9. She wrote a book about her historic trip

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Her experiences deserved to be noted down in a book and that is what she did. She wrote a book about her historic journey around the world, titled Three-Eight Charlie (1970). In the book, she spelled out the last details. Her experiences and challenges during the flight, her encounters with people from different cultures, and her struggles with mechanical problems and weather conditions. The book’s purpose was to inspire and create awareness about women’s achievements in aviation. it did just that. It inspired many young women to pursue careers in the field and she became a pioneering aviator legend.

10. She was named one of the top women of 1964

1964 Press Photo President Johnson awards flier Jerrie Mock with a gold medal. Image by an unknown author (Associated Press) – Wikimedia

Her achievements were recognized by Time magazine. She was named one of the top 10 women of 1964. Her journey was a significant milestone in the history of aviation and paved the way for future generations of female pilots. It served as a testament to her skill and courage as a pilot but also a demonstration of the changing social attitudes toward women and their capabilities. By completing the journey, Mock shattered stereotypes and proved that women were capable of achieving great things in traditionally male-dominated fields.

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