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Defying Gravity & Age: the story of pilot Arty Trost
Arty Trost: Female Pioneer
Arty Trost is an 81-year-old pilot still flying solo. Just one year ago, she flew around the perimeter of the United States with her fourth aircraft. She has flown about 3,800 hours in 35 years. Born in California, she now lives in Sandy, Oregon. She is currently running a farm with a landing strip nearby, after working as a business coach and speaker for decades.
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Can you share what it was like to break barriers as a female pilot almost forty years ago?
I was raised in a time when girls didn’t do that. And to some degree, the population of women who are flying is still very, very small. But I always felt very accepted by all the pilots I’ve met when I started flying. They helped sometimes more than I wanted because you don’t always learn best when they do. I felt really protected.
Did you ever feel overprotected by your fellow pilots?
Yeah, it was funny. I remember when I flew myself to Southern California. It took me four days. On my way back, I stopped to refuel 65 miles away from home. And (laughs) the pilots’ wives there asked me if it was safe to fly home by myself. If not, one of the guys should fly me out (laughs). So, I had just flown 2,400 miles and they were worried about me flying another 65 miles. That was quite funny.
"I especially want to encourage women and girls to try flying. You'll find courage and abilities you never knew you had."
— Arty Trost
What advice would you offer to women and girls aspiring to become pilots?
You know, I think everybody should try flying in a small plane. And I especially want to encourage women and girls to try it. It is a whole different world because you’ll find you have courage and experience and an ability to do things that, generally, when you are on the ground, most people would say women can’t do. Believe me, you can.
When did you lose your heart to flying?
Thirty-five years ago, a friend of mine started getting into ultralights. And he said: you’ve got to try this, you are going to love it. So, we agreed on a demonstration flight, and I don’t think I was in the air for more than four minutes before I was shouting into the microphone: I want to take lessons. I want to take lessons! (laughs) I finished my lessons and was deemed to be responsible enough to fly an aircraft on May 23, 1989, at 3:30 in the afternoon.