Just saw this in the Knoxville News Sentinel. If you don't live in East Tennessee, you have probably never heard of Evelyn Bryan Johnson, but she was truly an aviation pioneer. If it had wings or rotors, Evelyn could fly it. She was especially committed to making aviation accessible and safe for everyone involved in it. This quote from the linked article pretty much says it all, "She is said to have logged more flight hours, trained more pilots and given more Federal Aviation Administration exams than any other pilot on the planet."
I feel very honored that I received my private pilot's license from Evelyn. Through a fluke of the weather, I had to fly to the Morristown airport to do my flight exam and check ride. Morristown was Evelyn's flight base and where she worked as the airport manager and as an FAA examiner. I had heard of her before and was in awe of her but had never met her before. My awe at having her as my flight examiner made me all the more nervous about the test! I passed with "flying" colors, and Evelyn was so kind to me. That's the only time I ever met her, but I will never forget it. She was an amazing lady. At the age of 97, Evelyn lost her left leg in a car accident. She later returned to work as the airport manager. She was truly an inspiration to everyone who knew her, and to those in the aviation world in particular.
I feel very honored that I received my private pilot's license from Evelyn. Through a fluke of the weather, I had to fly to the Morristown airport to do my flight exam and check ride. Morristown was Evelyn's flight base and where she worked as the airport manager and as an FAA examiner. I had heard of her before and was in awe of her but had never met her before. My awe at having her as my flight examiner made me all the more nervous about the test! I passed with "flying" colors, and Evelyn was so kind to me. That's the only time I ever met her, but I will never forget it. She was an amazing lady. At the age of 97, Evelyn lost her left leg in a car accident. She later returned to work as the airport manager. She was truly an inspiration to everyone who knew her, and to those in the aviation world in particular.
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