Taking Flight: 7 Black Female Astronauts and Aviators Who Changed History
- By
Terri Williams
Shawna Kimbrell
Shawna Kimbrell is the first black female fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. In 1976, the military allowed women to train as pilots, but they were not allowed to pilot F-16 combat aircraft until 1993. Kimbrell graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1998, proceeded through rigorous pilot training, and received her pilot wings in 1999. She flew her first combat mission in 2001 Operation Northern Watch. Kimbrell has flown the multi-million dollar F-16, in addition to the T-28, T-37 and T-3. She has over 945 hours in the F-16; 176 of which are combat hours.
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