Emirati becomes first female fighter pilot

[Zarvan]

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Captain Mansouri pilots an F-16 Fighting Falcon, a single-engine fighter aircraft, and is a squadron commander. — Courtesy photo


DUBAI — Mariam Hassan Salem Al-Mansouri has become the first Emirati woman to hold the rank of fighter pilot in the UAE Air Force and may be the first Gulf woman to enjoy the title. Captain Mansouri, 35, pilots an F-16 Fighting Falcon, a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, and is a squadron commander. With backing from her family, Mansouri, who had always wanted to fly fighter jets for her country, joined the UAE Air Force in 2007 when authorities first announced they were accepting volunteers. During her career, Mansouri has taken part in a significant number of aerial maneuvers both in and outside the UAE alongside allied and friendly states. Emirati Vice President and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashed Al-Maktoum honored Mansouri for her achievement and presented her with a medal as well as the Mohamed Bin Rashed award for distinguished governmental performance. — Al Arabiya News
Emirati becomes first female fighter pilot | Mid-East | Saudi Gazette
@Aeronaut @al-Hasani @Al Bhatti @Slav Defence @Chak Bamu @mafiya @tarrar

 

[Indos]

Captain Mansouri pilots an F-16 Fighting Falcon, a single-engine fighter aircraft, and is a squadron commander. — Courtesy photo


Captain Mansouri, 35, pilots an F-16 Fighting Falcon, a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, and is a squadron commander.

Wow.....inspiring.

 

[Donatello]

At 35, most of her flying career is done. I wonder how long she can fly from now on. None the less, a great feat. Now only if the Saudis learned a thing or two.

 

[Mughal-Prince]

She is 35 and "joined the UAE Air Force in 2007 when authorities first announced they were accepting volunteers".

Wow man what was her age when she joined air force 28.
Here in Pakistan we have a cap at 23 MAXIMUM which has 1 year extension included.

 

[Kompromat]

Very good news, power to her wings.

 

[janon]

She is 35 and "joined the UAE Air Force in 2007 when authorities first announced they were accepting volunteers".

Wow man what was her age when she joined air force 28.
Here in Pakistan we have a cap at 23 MAXIMUM which has 1 year extension included.

Maybe there was a relaxation in age limit for women at that time, since they were not allowed entry previously.

Anyway I'm glad to hear the news, and all power to her.

 

[Mughal-Prince]

I think this relaxation is for every one there not only for women as it's not mentioned !!!

 

[Allah Akbar]

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Captain Mansouri pilots an F-16 Fighting Falcon, a single-engine fighter aircraft, and is a squadron commander. — Courtesy photo


DUBAI — Mariam Hassan Salem Al-Mansouri has become the first Emirati woman to hold the rank of fighter pilot in the UAE Air Force and may be the first Gulf woman to enjoy the title. Captain Mansouri, 35, pilots an F-16 Fighting Falcon, a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, and is a squadron commander. With backing from her family, Mansouri, who had always wanted to fly fighter jets for her country, joined the UAE Air Force in 2007 when authorities first announced they were accepting volunteers. During her career, Mansouri has taken part in a significant number of aerial maneuvers both in and outside the UAE alongside allied and friendly states. Emirati Vice President and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashed Al-Maktoum honored Mansouri for her achievement and presented her with a medal as well as the Mohamed Bin Rashed award for distinguished governmental performance. — Al Arabiya News
Emirati becomes first female fighter pilot | Mid-East | Saudi Gazette
@Aeronaut @al-Hasani @Al Bhatti @Slav Defence @Chak Bamu @mafiya @tarrar

May allah bless her and her safety

 

[T90TankGuy]

Inspiring woman

 

[Informant]

UAE had a severe shortage of qualified Pilot Officers.

 

[Bratva]

I think she will be the GIBS ( or LIBS) in most of the sorties

 

[Mughal-Prince]

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Captain Mansouri pilots an F-16 Fighting Falcon, a single-engine fighter aircraft, and is a squadron commander. — Courtesy photo

Waisay she is cute

 

[scholseys]

Saudi women will get jealous. Women are a jealous bunch...

 

[Al Bhatti]

June 10, 2014

Captain Mariam Hassan Salem Al Mansouri says she competed with herself to pave her own path and develop her own abilities.

Interview with First Emirati Air Force pilot
Captain Mariam: Extremely proud to be MBR Excellence Award winner

Winning the Mohammad Bin Rashid Excellence Award is a source of motivation and encouragement to achieve more excellence and innovation, said Captain Mariam Hassan Salem Al Mansouri, the first Emirati female pilot to serve in the UAE Air Force.

During an interview with Nation Shield magazine, Captain Mariam said that she was not even aware that she had been nominated for the award. She said that she heard the news the night before the ceremony and that she was only able to confirm it the following day.

Captain Mariam said that she was extremely proud to be a part of the first group to be honoured in the award’s newly introduced category, ‘Pride of the UAE’.

Answering a question on what it meant for her to compete with others in a male-dominated field, Captain Mariam said that fist and foremost she competed with herself to pave her own path in developing her own abilities. She said that unlike competing with others, competing with yourself is a never-ending process and is a source of motivation for continuous learning.
Captain Mariam joined the Armed Forces right after high school. She said that back then, women were not allowed to become pilots in the Air Force. She continued to work in the General Command of the UAE Armed Forces, and once women were permitted to join the Air Force, she was the first to apply. Captain Mariam holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from UAE University, and later joined the Khalifa Aviation College.

She added that what attracted her to being a pilot in the Air Force was the fact that she could be a part of the nation’s defence forces. She pointed out that she also likes the field’s high level of competitiveness, which requires one to exert all efforts to achieve excellence.

Interview with First Emirati Air Force pilot | GulfNews.com

 

[Al Bhatti]

At 35, most of her flying career is done. I wonder how long she can fly from now on. None the less, a great feat. Now only if the Saudis learned a thing or two.

This year the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in KSA has started to allow women to take the test to receive the commercial pilot license. One day a female will fly a fighter plane.