99’s The Louise Sacchi Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Name:

The Louise Sacchi Memorial Scholarship

Purpose:

The Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of The Ninety-Nines, Inc. is part of an organization of licensed women pilots represented in over 40 countries. Our purpose is to engage in educational, charitable, and scientific activities, and to promote aeronautical science.  The scholarship awards may be used for any aviation purpose, and all qualified applicants will be seriously considered.

The Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of The 99s, Inc. Scholarship Information

In commemoration of their 50th anniversary in 1992, the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of The Ninety-Nines, Inc. established an aviation/aerospace scholarship that is awarded annually in June. As of 2008 our chapter received sufficient donations to allow us to provide two more. These scholarships are traditionally awarded to those females who reside, attend school, or are employed in the Greater Delaware Valley, or who are members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of The Ninety-Nines, Inc.   The scholarship awards may be used for any aviation purpose, and all qualified applicants will be seriously considered. The Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of The Ninety-Nines, Inc. is part of an organization of licensed women pilots represented in over 40 countries. Our purpose is to engage in educational, charitable, and scientific activities, and to promote aeronautical science. In addition to the scholarships offered by the International Association of Women Pilots, the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter is offering two additional scholarships for 20017, from bequeathments of past chapter members who have passed away: Louise Sacchi, Connie Wolf, and Theresa Dellaquila. Several types of Scholarships are available to women, through The Ninety-Nines, Inc. and other organizations. Our Chapter Scholarships to be awarded for 2017 are: 

• The Louise Sacchi and Connie Wolf Memorial Scholarship managed and awarded by the Eastern PA Chapter – $3,500
• The Theresa Dellaquila Memorial Scholarship, managed and awarded by the Eastern PA Chapter – $3,500

Click here to download the Eastern PA Chapter’s 2017 Scholarship Application: Scholarship Application 2017

History/Background:

Louise Sacchi learned to fly in 1939. By 1940, she was a flight and ground instructor. She was the first woman to do many things including: teaching Advanced Navigation to the RAF at the #1 British Flying Training School in Texas; and working as a run-up mechanic at Newark Airport after completing her mechanic course at Casey Jones School of Aeronautics. By 1945, she was working as a mechanic and engineering assistant for what is now Mobil doing fuel testing for the Navy.

After WWII Louise became Manager and Chief Pilot of a seaplane base in New Jersey. She earned her Airline Transport Rating, and in 1962 she flew her Bonanza to Europe to become Manager and Chief Pilot of an overseas ferry company. Three years later she began Sacchi Air Ferry Enterprises as the first and only woman international ferry pilot at that time. By 1968, Louise had made her 100th ocean crossing and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by Beechcraft Aircraft Co.

Louise received numerous awards, both national and international in addition to setting a speed record from New York to London for a Single engine land plane, and 340 ocean crossings. She authored two books, Ocean Flying, and The Happy Commuter before she passed away in 1997.

Louise had a life-long love of aviation, adventure, and public service.

Website:

Eastern PA Chapter, 99’s, Inc.