Matilde Moisant

Matilde Moisant only had a brief flying career - which is perhaps why she lived to a decent age unlike her counterpart Harriet Quimby.

Moisant was just as fearless as the rest of them, and undeterred by accidents.

On one occasion when she did a touch and go landing - touching the wheels on the ground and taking the plane up again - her gas tanks burst. The gas tanks being located either side of her seat. She wasn’t strapped in - there being no straps those days -which is interesting given the debate about Quimby’s death and the argument as to whether or not they had been strapped in.

The gas and oil exploded all over Moisant but after she was pulled out and inspected the damage… burnt gloves and her hair had come out her cap - she was ready to go again.