Ella Pilcher co-created and flew in gliders designed by Percy Pilcher, her younger brother, in the 1890s and is considered to be the first woman who sewed wings.
15 Facts About Ella Pilcher
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Ella Pilcher was made an honorary member of the Royal Aeronautical Society in December 1899.
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Ella Pilcher was born in Harrow to a Scottish mother, Sophia, and Somerset-born father, Thomas Webb Pilcher.
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Ella Pilcher was in his sixties for most of his children's births and died in 1874.
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Ella Pilcher went with Percy to Glasgow as his companion and housekeeper, while Ada Violet stayed south with Thomas.
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Ella Pilcher was, according to friends and family, a great singer.
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Ella Pilcher supported her brother's passionate interest in aeronautics which, she remembered, he had had since childhood.
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Ella Pilcher was helped by Iris Biles, the daughter of the professor Percy assisted.
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Percy did most of the test flying, but Ella Pilcher took at least one tethered flight.
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Ella Pilcher moved down to London when Percy was invited to join American-born arms magnate and aeronautical pioneer Hiram Maxim as his assistant in April 1896.
11.
Ella Pilcher helped Percy organise a demonstration of the Hawk on Sunday 20 June 1897 - Percy was hoping to find an investor to support him in developing and installing a motor in the glider.
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Ella Pilcher oversaw the installation and operation of a rope pulley across the valley from Percy's launch site, and was instrumental in the success of the day, in which Percy achieved impressive tethered and free flights.
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Ella Pilcher died from his injuries three days later, Ella at his side.
14.
Just weeks after Percy's death, Ella wrote to Robert Baden Powell, who had been a supporter of the Pilchers' gliding experiments and was de facto president of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain, requesting membership on her own behalf.
15.
Ella Pilcher donated Percy's models, sketches and photographs to the Royal Aeronautical Society that year, and went on to contribute an article about him to the Aeronautical Journal in 1909.