Dorothy Cochrane curates the collections of general aviation aircraft; flight materiel (specifically personal, business, and utility production aircraft); aerial cameras; and the history of general aviation and women in aviation. She holds a BA in history from Ithaca College and a MEd from Lehigh University. Cochrane is the co-author of The Aviation Careers of Igor Sikorsky and is the responsible curator for the Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight Gallery, and the General Aviation, Business Aviation, Aerobatic Aviation, and Aerial Camera exhibit stations and cases. She is also speaker coordinator for the Museum’s General Electric Aviation Lecture Series and Charles A. Lindbergh Memorial Lecture. She earned her private pilot license in 1994. Cochrane is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association. Cochrane is currently writing a book on Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
National Air and Space Museum visitors frequently ask, "Where are the women pilots?" The answer is that they are in nearly every gallery of the Museum.
Learn about the history and aircraft that are part of general aviation, the civilian aircraft not flown by commercial carriers or the military.
See examples of business aircraft ranging from small, propeller-driven airplanes for shorter hops to fast, well-appointed "bizjets" that can fly internationally nonstop.
Aerobatic Champions featured Betty Skelton's Pitts S-1C Little Stinker and Leo Loudenslager's Laser 200, both flown in world championship aerobatic competition. Both aircraft are on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.