A FEMALE pilot from Draycott, near Moreton, will take to the skies in a worldwide event aimed at encouraging more women to earn pilots’ licenses.

Hilary Gilbert, 62, will be among many female aviators from across the world who will fly aircraft during the Centennial of Licensed Women Pilots on Monday, March 8.

This event is being held to mark the centenary of March 8, 1910 which was the day when French balloonist, Raymonde De Laroche, became the first woman in the world to earn a pilot’s license.

The pilots, who will all take female friends with them, will try to break the record for the most women being introduced to flying in one day.

Weather permitting, Hilary will take two or three female friends, from Draycott, for a light aircraft flight from Wellesbourne Mountford airfield.

She has booked an aircraft from noon until 1.30pm and will fly south to pass over Draycott so her friends can see their homes from the air.

Hilary, a member of the British Women Pilots' Association, also hopes to fly over Moreton, Chipping Campden and Blockley.

The event is being held because less than seven per cent of the world’s pilots are women.

Hilary obtained her pilot’s licence in 1989 after being inspired by taking a flight into The Bush during a visit to Australia.

She said: “I came back to an English winter and I thought I wanted to do something exciting.

“It was so exhilarating.”

Encouraging all female pilots to participate in the event, she said: “The majority of women are always a bit reticent about pushing themselves forward but if men can do it, so can we.

“The whole idea of this is just to demonstrate that women can fly like men.”