AirACES talks by British Airways' first female pilot

Lynn Barton is coming to Boxgrove Village Hall on Monday 27 July, where she'll be giving two talks about her aviation journey. She was British Airways' first female pilot, so the story she's telling is a first-hand account of breaking a bit of ground in the cockpit.

The talks are hosted by AirACES, which is short for the Arun & Chichester (Air) Enthusiasts Society. It's an aviation society open to anyone interested in flying, and its members run the full range: aircraft enthusiasts, private and commercial pilots, airline workers, glider pilots and RAF personnel. The society is patronised by retired RAF figures, including Sqn Ldr Rod Dean, a former Hawker Hunter pilot who's now a display organiser and pilot, and past patrons like WgCdr Bob Prothero MRAeS, RAF(Retd), and Capt. Eric 'Winkle' Brown CBE, DSC, AFC, KCVSA, Ph.D. They charge an annual membership fee of £15 and put out a monthly newsletter.

Barton's talks are about her career, and given her place as BA's first female pilot, they'll cover her path into the flight deck. It's a good one for anyone with a passing interest in aviation, whether you're a pilot yourself or just like the idea of it. Entry is £5 for members and £10 for non-members.