Wally Funk, the trailblazing aviator and Mercury 13 member who broke barriers for women in aviation, has died at age 87. Her remarkable career spanned eight decades, from becoming the US military's first female flight instructor to the FAA's first female flight inspector. Funk's unfulfilled dream of becoming an astronaut defined her legacy, but her impact on spaceflight and gender equality remains profound.
Early Life and Aviation Career
Funk earned her pilot's license as a teenager and by age 20 was the US military's first female flight instructor. In 1971, she became the FAA's first female flight inspector, and three years later, the first woman instructor for the NTSB. Her memoir, Higher, Faster, Longer, chronicles her lifelong passion: "Aviation has been my whole life; I eat and breathe it."
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The Mercury 13 Program
In 1960, Funk joined the secret program that became the Mercury 13, undergoing the same rigorous testing as the seven male Mercury astronauts. She tested top of the group, including spending 10 hours 35 minutes in an isolation tank and enduring medical procedures like having rubber tubing shoved down her throat. Despite outscoring astronaut John Glenn, NASA refused to send women into space, citing a policy of only accepting USAF pilots—all male at the time.
Key Achievements and Barriers
| Year | Milestone | Barrier |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Top scorer in Mercury 13 tests | NASA refused female astronauts | 1963 | Valentina Tereshkova becomes first woman in space | US still excluded women | 1983 | Sally Ride becomes first US woman in space | Funk's dream remained unfulfilled |
| 1999 | Eileen Collins commands space shuttle | Funk never flew to space |
Legacy and Impact
Funk's story symbolizes the fight for gender equality in aerospace. She requested to be picked for space flight four times, but NASA's social order prevented it. Today, her legacy inspires new generations of female aviators and astronauts. As she wrote, "Higher, Faster, Longer" became her mantra.
Key Takeaways
- Wally Funk was a pioneer for women in aviation and spaceflight.
- She was part of the Mercury 13, a group of women who passed astronaut tests but were denied spaceflight.
- Her career included being the first female flight instructor, FAA inspector, and NTSB instructor.
- She out-tested male astronauts like John Glenn but faced systemic sexism.
- Her legacy continues to inspire equality in STEM fields.
FAQ
Who was Wally Funk?
Wally Funk was an American aviator and member of the Mercury 13, a group of women who underwent astronaut testing in the 1960s but were denied spaceflight by NASA due to gender discrimination.
What was the Mercury 13?
The Mercury 13 were 13 women who passed the same physical and psychological tests as the male Mercury astronauts in the early 1960s, but NASA never allowed them to fly to space because of their gender.
Did Wally Funk ever go to space?
No, Wally Funk never achieved her dream of becoming an astronaut. Despite being top of her class in testing, NASA's policies prevented women from spaceflight until Sally Ride in 1983, decades after Funk's prime.
How old was Wally Funk when she died?
Wally Funk died at age 87. Her career spanned over 80 years, from earning her pilot's license as a teenager to advocating for women in aviation until her final days.
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