U-Evelyn Stone uBryan Johnson, oteketiswa ngelika-“Mama Bird,” wayengumshayeli wendiza wesifazane onamahora amaningi okundiza emhlabeni. WayenguColonel ku-Civil Air Patrol futhi eyilungu elisungula i-Morristown, i-Tennessee Civil Air Patrol squadron.
Lapho umyeni ka-Evelyn wokuqala, uWJ Bryan, engena ebuthweni Lezempi ngo-1941, wanquma ukuqala umsebenzi wokundiza ngendiza. Ukuze afike esifundweni sakhe sokuqala sendiza, kwadingeka agibele isitimela nebhasi, ahambe ibanga elingamakhilomitha amathathu, bese egwedla eya esikhumulweni sezindiza, ngoba ibhuloho lalingakakhiwa ukuze lifike kuso.
Ukundiza kwakhe eyedwa okokuqala kwenzeka ngoNovemba 8, 1944, futhi wathola ilayisensi yangasese ngo-1945 kanye nesitifiketi sokuhweba ngo-1946. Waba umqeqeshi wezindiza ngo-1947. Wafundisa abashayeli bezindiza abangabafundi abayizi-5,000 9,000 ngaphambi kokuba ayeke ukubala futhi wanikeza izitifiketi ezingaphezu kuka-XNUMX i-Federal Aviation Administration. Abafunda indlela yokundiza kuye kwakungabashayeli bezindiza bakusasa bezindiza zezindiza nezindiza ezithwala impahla, abaphathi bezindiza bakusasa, kanye nowayenguSenator u-Howard Baker waseTennessee.
Ngokuhamba kweminyaka, wathengisa izindiza ze-Cessna, wabhala mayelana nokundiza kwamaphepha okuhweba, wabamba iqhaza emijahweni yezindiza eya eHavana naseMelika yonkana, futhi waba ngomunye wabesifazane bokuqala ukuthola ilayisense yendiza enophephela emhlane. Njengomshayeli wezinhlobo eziningi zezindiza, kuhlanganise nejethi, akazange aphahlazeke, wagwedla injini kabili nomlilo kanye.
Lapho eneminyaka engu-92 ubudala, u-Evelyn wayengumfundisi wezindiza omdala kunabo bonke emhlabeni, ngokusho kweNhlangano Yabanikazi Bezindiza Nabashayeli Bezindiza, futhi waqhubeka efundisa iminyaka engu-3 eyengeziwe. Wazalwa eminyakeni eyisi-6 ngemva kwendiza yokuqala yezelamani zakwaWright ngo-1903, wandizela amamayela ayizigidi ezingu-5.5 - okulingana nohambo lwama-23 lokuya enyangeni - namahora angaphezu kuka-57,634.4 - okulingana neminyaka engu-6.5 ukuya phezulu.
Umsebenzi ka-Evelyn wokundiza waphela lapho i-glaucoma nokulahlekelwa umlenze ngenxa yengozi yemoto kumbangela ukuba abophe amabhuleki akhe omoya. Uthe engxoxweni abe nayo ne-USA Today, “Akusikhona ukundiza okuyinkinga. Ifaka i-prosthesis ezindizeni ezincane. Ngiyayisebenza.” Wagcina ukushayela indiza ngo-2005.
Amagalelo kaMama Bird endizeni evamile adlulela ngalé komyalelo wokundiza nokundiza. Ubenomsebenzi ongashintshiwe - i-Morristown Flying Service - iminyaka engama-33, futhi wagubha iminyaka engama-54 yenkonzo eMoore-Murrell Field eMorristown, eTennessee. Iminyaka engu-19, uJohnson wayengumthengisi weCessna, ngakho wayendiza futhi athengise cishe yonke into eyenziwa uCessna. Wayenezindiza eziningi, kusukela ku-Aeronca Champ kuya ku-Super Cruiser.
UJohnson wasebenza kwi-Tennessee Aeronautics Commission iminyaka engu-18 futhi wayengusihlalo we-4 yaleyo minyaka. Usize ukwaba imali yesibonelelo sikahulumeni kanye ne-FAA yamaphrojekthi wokuthuthukisa isikhumulo sezindiza kusifunda sonke.
Ngo-2006, ebuzwa ukuthi uhlela nini ukuthatha umhlalaphansi, impendulo yakhe yathi: “Uma ngikhula ngokwanele. Ngineminyaka engu-97 kuphela ubudala.” Uqhubekile nokuphatha isikhumulo sezindiza sendawo esengaphezu kweminyaka eyi-100.
UMama Bird wazalwa ngoNovemba 4, 1909 eCorbin, eKentucky, futhi washona eneminyaka engu-102 ngoMeyi 10, 2012 eMorristown, eTennessee. Wasinda bobabili abayeni bakhe, washada noWyatt Jennings Bryan kusukela ngo-1931-1963 kanye noMorgan Johnson kusukela ngo-1965-1977.
Munye kuphela indoda eyeqa irekhodi lika-Evelyn lamahora okundiza - u-Ed Long, wase-Alabamian, owayedle amahora angaphezu kuka-64,000 endiza. Amahemuhemu athi enye yezinkulumo zokugcina zikaMnu. Long yayiwukuthi, “Ungamvumeli lowo wesifazane angishaye.”
