This week my guest is Eileen Bjorkman the author of Fly Girls Revolt. She served in the U.S. Air Force. She joined the military as an engineer and while at school getting her engineering degree at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) she learned about a squadron at Holloman AFB where she could sit in the back of aircraft for various flight tests. This led to her becoming a Flight Test Engineer. She decided to write Fly Girls Revolt to highlight her generation. And share all the things they did to advocate for women to fly in combat aircraft. The policy that allowed women to serve in combat aircraft in the Air Force was changed in 1993.

Fly Girls Revolt

Eileen was working as a computer programmer and felt there was an opportunity to do something more. What was supposed to be a chat with a recruiter turned into paperwork and her joining the Air Force. They needed engineers. With her background in math and science from her computer science degree the AF decided to send her to AFIT to get her BS in engineering. While at school she learned how she could fly as an engineer at Holloman.

Test Pilot School

Her time at Holloman led her to go to test pilot school and work as a Flight Test Engineer. This gave her the opportunity to fly in all types of aircraft. Since they were doing testing and not going to combat the exclusions of which aircraft she could fly in were lifted. She enjoyed her career in the Air Force and served for over 33 years.

Engineer to Author

Eileen has written two books. Her newest book shares some of her own story and highlights the women from her generation. I loved reading her book and found the history and stories fascinating. I have covered a handful of books that highlight the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). But I haven’t heard a lot of the stories between when women were able to start flying again in the 1970s until 1993 when women could serve in combat aircraft.

Get your copy of Fly Girls Revolt today!