Patricia Denkler (born October 4, 1952) is a former American naval aviator. She was the first woman to land a plane on an aircraft carrier.
| Full Name: | Patricia A. Denkler, USN |
| Famous Flights: | First Navy Woman to be carrier qualified in a jet aircraft |
| First Flight Date: | 1979 |
Denkler began flying in 1975. Before joining the United States Navy, she flew tailwheel-type aircraft and gained aerobatics experience in biplanes.[1]
Denkler followed in the footsteps of her father and brother to become a Naval aviator. William Denkler was a Naval aviator who flew in World War II.[2] In 1977, she met then Commander John McCain who encouraged her to apply to the Navy Flight Program.[3] The U.S. Navy only began accepting women pilots in 1973.[4] She applied for Aviation Officer Candidate School and was accepted for the October 1977 class. At that time, approximately fifteen women were selected per year.[5]
After earning her wings in 1979, Denkler was chosen to be a selectively retained graduate. She was recognized as an above average aviator and continued in the flight training program as an instructor after graduation. During her time in the Navy, she became the first female naval aviator to carrier qualify in a jet aircraft.[6] She later became the first woman to land a plane on an aircraft carrier when in 1981, she flew a TA-4J aboard the . In 1982, she became the first woman to land a fleet combat aircraft, the A6E Intruder on a carrier.[5]
Denkler joined the Ninety Nines in 1985.[7] After retiring from the Navy, she became a pilot at Delta Airlines, where she worked for 31 years.[8] In 1988, she moved to Beaufort, South Carolina.