Shaesta Waiz
Born1987 (1987)[1]
Afghanistan
NationalityAmerican
EducationEmbry–Riddle Aeronautical University
Known forPreviously held the record for youngest female to make a solo flight around the world in a single-engine aircraft [1]
Aviation career
Famous flightsCircumnavigation with a 2001 Beechcraft Bonanza A36 aircraft
(12 May 2017–4 October 2017)[1]

Shaesta Waiz (born 1987) is an American aviator. She is the first female certified civilian pilot born in Afghanistan, and in 2017, became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft - a record she held until Zara Rutherford completed the flight at the age of 19 in January, 2022.[2][3]

Waiz was born in Afghanistan. Her family traveled to the United States in 1987 to escape the Soviet–Afghan War.[4] She went on to study at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she started the Women's Ambassador Program to mentor and support young women pursuing an education in aviation and engineering.[5]

She founded the non-profit organization Dreams Soar, Inc and planned a solo flight around the world, originally scheduled to launch in 2016.[6][7] On October 4, 2017, Waiz completed the world solo trip across five continents, with 30 stops in 22 countries[8] in a Beechcraft Bonanza A36.[1]

Recognition

She is the subject of a children's book Fly, Girl, Fly! by Nancy Roe Pimm.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Afghan Refugee Completes Historic Flight Around the World". National Geographic. 4 October 2017. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "Afghan ex-refugee Shaesta Waiz on round-the-world solo flight". BBC.com. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "29-Year-Old Refugee Pilot Flies Around the World to Promote Women in STEM". nbcnews.com. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Remnants Of An Invasion". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. 5 July 1987. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Women's Ambassador Program at Embry-Riddle - Home". Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "Afghan pilot Shaesta Waiz takes flight for women". CBC News. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Route". Dreams Soar. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  8. 1 2 Boatman, Julie (September 23, 2020). "New Book Tells Story of Shaesta Waiz". Flying. Retrieved 2021-10-28.


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