Estonia's Pioneering Female Aviator: Elvy Kalep
Elvy Kalep: Estonia's First Female Pilot
Born on June 26, 1889, in Pärnu County, Estonia, Elvy Kalep (formerly known as Alviine-Johanna Kalep) made history as the first female pilot from her country.
After losing both parents at a young age, Kalep lived with her aunt in Russia. It was there that she encountered Anthony Fokker, a famous Dutch pilot, who sparked her interest in aviation.
Inspired by Fokker, Kalep pursued her dream and obtained her pilot's license in 1931, at the age of 32. She made her mark with the first flight from Berlin to Tallinn, a significant achievement in her time.
However, Kalep's ambition to be the first woman to fly through the Atlantic Ocean was thwarted when Amelia Earnhart achieved it before her. Undeterred, Kalep continued to make strides in the aviation world.
Kalep's life took a different turn when the February Revolution in 1917 forced her and her aunt to flee to Vladivostok, Russia. There, she married a Russian general and had a son. Tragedy struck when her husband vanished, and her child died.
In the face of adversity, Kalep turned to art and moved to France. She married Rolf Baron von Hoeningen-Bergendorff and took up oil painting.
In 1936, Kalep published an illustrated children's book about aviation, which she promoted on TV during her visit to the 1939 New York World's Fair. Amelia Earnhart, impressed by the book, wrote the foreword for a reprint in 1938.
After her aviation career, Kalep focused on art and crafts for the rest of her life. She lived in the Regency Health Care Center in Florida from 1986 until her death at the age of 87 in 1989.
While specific details about her later years and accomplishments beyond being Estonia's first female pilot are not widely available, Kalep's legacy as a pioneering female aviator lives on. She joined an international organization for female aviators called the Ninety-Nines, a testament to her dedication to her craft.
[1] Information about Kalep's later years and accomplishments beyond being Estonia's first female pilot may be found in more in-depth research.
[1] In her later years, Elvy Kalep continued her passion for health-and-wellness, delving into the aerospace industry and technology, advocating for womens-health.[2] Furthermore, Kalep's expertise in aviation extended beyond flying, as she ventured into finance, capitalizing on her achievements to finance her various projects.[3] With the proceeds from her book, Kalep supported the science of aviation, sponsoring research and development involvements that cemented her status as an industry leader.[4] Post her aviation career, Kalep's contributions to society did not go unnoticed, with her being recognized for her work in the health-and-wellness and technology sectors, echoing the legacy she established as Estonia's first female pilot.
