Two determined Latin American women pilots reached for the sky to pull down the possibilities.
That persistence rewarded Karina Miranda and Ruth Morlas, whose challenging careers in aviation have taken wing.
Lt. Miranda is the Chilean Air Force’s first female jet fighter pilot and the first woman from her South American country to soar faster than the speed of sound.
Inspired by her first plane-trip experience at age 9 and driven by the example of her immigrant parents’ strong work ethic, the Ecuadorian-born Morlas emerged as a commercially-rated pilot, flight instructor and engineer and now shines as a systems operator for The Boeing Co.
Both women followed their dreams, breaking sound and gender barriers to reach the stars.
Today, they also serve as mentors and inspiring role models for youth to follow, especially the next Latina- and Hispanic-American generation of pilots, engineers and aviation specialists.
Miranda and Morlas shared their experiences with a touring group of freshman and sophomores from Kent-Meridian High School who spent a muggy Monday at the Northwest Aviation College, just off the runway and next to the hangers of Auburn Municipal Airport.
Experienced instructors and students were on hand to discuss careers as professional pilots and aviation support specialists, as well as the Kent High School’s aviation program. Students got a look at a variety of training aircraft and climbed into the cockpits of planes big and small.
Students gawked at a 1944 Beechcraft, a well-maintained warbird that retired from service in 1972 but remains a flying museum piece.
“I didn’t think I would be interested at first,” said Melisa Gonzalez, “but now that I’m here, I am intrigued. It is something I might pursue. It was a great experience.”
The college and the Kent School District worked in conjunction with Boeing and the Museum of Flight to make the event possible, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in September by honoring the legacy of Latin American women pilots.
The program, which exposed teens to potential careers in many aviation fields, meets a school district-adopted goal of making college education reachable and career opportunities possible for minority students.
“It breaks down barriers. It’s really about sharing with our Latina young women that careers in aviation are possible,” said Israel Vela, the school district’s executive director of student and family engagement services. “And it’s not just for them to become a pilot. There are a number of areas.”
Miranda welcomed the opportunity to share her insights. At 17, she joined the Chilean Air Force and swiftly earned her wings. She has flown many jets and planes. She hopes one day to maneuver the ultimate tactical fighter, the F-15.
“It’s important to be here and to have this opportunity to be in front of kids and try to inspire them to come into the world of aviation,” said Miranda through her interpreter, Morlas.
Morlas followed a different route to shape her aviation career. She earned a degree in aerodynamics from the University of Virginia, catapulting the young engineer into a world of design and teaching. Morlas, who previously was a design engineer on Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, now performs in-flight systems checks on Boeing transport aircraft.
Earlier this year, Morlas participated in The Museum of Flight’s “Women Fly! Symposium,” which brought together successful women in aviation throughout the world.
Morlas’ and Miranda’s audience this week was impressionable youth, but the message was just as important.
As Vela observed, Miranda’s words speak volumes.
“She told the girls that she loves flying because ‘I’m able to treat my cockpit as a desk. When I’m in the air, I see the world as so small. And I think of the problems and challenges that I’ve had, and that they are also small, and that we can all overcome those challenges.’ ”
