Ladies of Airhawks series #3 | Elizabeth Menozzi

||| FROM ROBERT WAUNCH for AIRHAWKS FLYING CLUB |||

Author’s Note

This is a re-submittal of this article because it was pulled from publication after only one day. Opening comments by the author:

This series of articles about the LADIES OF AIRHAWKS is meant to showcase these amazing women who have challenged themselves to accomplish something special in their lives – learning to fly. High School students, mothers and women who work multiple jobs have challenged themselves to break from the ground and operate in the three-dimensional world of aviation.

Some use this aviation accomplishment for service to the community, some for their future profession and some are doing it for the utter joy and challenge this intellectual pursuit requires.

These articles highlighting each of them are meant as a showcase of their dedication, hard work and accomplishments.
Hopefully these articles will not be used ‘again’ as a venting place for someone’s personal political agenda.

This posting is #3 in a series on women pilots in the Airhawks Flying Club and their experience in conquering a challenging new skill as a certificated pilot.

Elizabeth Menozzi

In 2018, Elizabeth Menozzi left her first career in operations and supply chain management to move to Orcas Island and pursue her dream of writing and publishing fantasy and science fiction novels (https://emenozzi.com/books/). She never thought about taking flying lessons or becoming a pilot until her partner joined Airhawks with a goal to get his pilot’s license and then buy an aircraft. Elizabeth didn’t really want to buy anything that expensive without also being able to use it, so she started flight lessons as well in April 2024.

After only a few lessons she fell in love with the freedom and confidence that came from flying. She was hooked and started flying as many days and hours as she could. As she was preparing for her Private Pilot check ride in October of 2024, it became clear to her that she wanted to pursue aviation professionally.

Elizabeth spent all winter flying and passed her Instrument check ride in April 2025. Then, for a change of pace and a new challenge, Elizabeth registered to compete in the Air Race Classic (ARC), an annual women’s 3-day team race.
https://www.airraceclassic.org/.

This year ARC celebrated the 96th anniversary of this historic competition. The race route is different every year. This year it was from Fairhope, Alabama to Spokane, Washington. The teams (two or three pilots per aircraft) race against their own aircraft’s handicapped speed as clocked between established checkpoints along the route.

Elizabeth flew her own aircraft solo to Alabama where she joined up with a race partner she’d met through the 99s, a female pilot organization started by Amelia Earhart and friends. Elizabeth’s team finished in eighth place. A solid performance for a first attempt at this race! Elizabeth is excited to try to better this result next year and hopes another Airhawks lady will partner with her for that race.

After the Air Race Classic, Elizabeth started working toward her Commercial check ride, which she passed in August of 2025. With a desire to give back to the Airhawks club, Elizabeth then went on to earn her Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor certificates. She is excited to start helping other pilots learn the material they need to master to pass their written exams and check rides.

Elizabeth is now working towards pursuing a career as a commercial pilot — while still writing novels in her spare time. She plans to add several additional ratings and endorsements to her skill set, including tailwheel, multi-engine, aerobatics, and upset recovery training.

To quote this adventurous lady: “I love that when I’m flying, I’m fully in the moment. I’m always striving for that elusive “perfect” from start-to-finish flight, and there are always things I can do better…which makes the challenge of it so fun!”

Airhawks is an Orcas based Flying Club that supports aviation with aircraft rental, scholarships and flight training. Aviation is a vital part of the Orcas transportation infrastructure and Airhawks, in partnership with the Orcas Aviation Association (OAA), supports the medical flight program (Mercy Flight) that connects volunteer pilots with residents needing urgent or cancer care transportation. www.airhawks.org

Women pilots in the United States remain a small percentage; approximately 9.6% of all certificated aviators. The percentage of female airline transport pilots exceeded 5% for the first time in 2023. While women still represent a small minority in aviation, the trajectory is increasing. 16% of Student Pilot Certificates are now held by women.

Highlighting successful individuals in aviation, like Elizabeth Menozzi, can stimulate interest in aviation for men and women to learn to fly as a career or for personal transportation.