1. First Deaf Female Pilot By: Sierra Marler
Nellie Zabel Willhite
First Deaf Female Pilot
By: Sierra Marler

2. Table of contents Slide 1. Childhood and Education
Slide 2. Personal Life
Slide 3. Career in Aviation
Slide 4. Retirement and Death
Slide 5. Accomplishments
Slide 6. Video
Slide 7. Work Cited

3. Childhood and Education
Eleanor “Nellie” Zabel was born hearing on November 22, 1892 to Lillian and Charles Zabel
Nellie was an only child growing up on a ranch in Box Elder, South Dakota
At the age of two, Nellie catches the measles and becomes permanently deaf
After her mother died, her father enrolled her at the State School for the Deaf in Sioux Falls at the age of seven
She stayed and lived with foster parents, Dr. Leonard C and Dollie Mead of Yankton
Her foster parents tutored her while attending school and taught her how to read lips

4. Personal Life
Met Dr. Frank V. Willhite at school. Was married for a short lived amount of time
After school, worked in Pierre and Sioux Falls as a Stenographer at the airfield
At work, she met an aviation instructor who suggested she attend aviation school and learn to fly
In 1927, at the age of 34, Nellie began her pursuit to fly
After her first solo flight, her father bought her a OX- 5 Eaglerock biplane for $2700. She named the plane “PARD” after her father
“Even though I couldn’t hear the engine roar, I could tell right away if anything was wrong – just from the vibrations” –Nellie
Copyright 1993 by the S. Dakota State Historical Society.

5. Career Once receiving her pilot’s license, Nellie
earned her living as a Barnstormer doing air
shows, races, and tours
Frequently made headlines as the only
woman participating in shows and for her
tight, fast maneuvering techniques
Worked at Renner Air Service in Sioux Falls were she flew passengers, as well as managed the office
In 1934, while working at Renner Air Service, Nellie received a commercial pilot’s license on top of her private license
Became the first and only deaf person to carry airmail after receiving her commercial pilot license
Finishing her career as airmail carrier, Nellie retired her wings in 1944 at the age of 52
South Dakota Magazine

6. Retirement and Death
Even in retirement, Nellie put her aviation knowledge to work
She would help plan national air races for woman flyers
With the advent of WWII, Nellie became a ground school instructor and propeller inspector at Hill Field in Ogden, Utah
After the war, Nellie returned to Sioux Falls to live out her retirement
Nellie was happy to share her story with anyone that asked
Nellie Zabel Willhite passed away at the age of 99 in Just shortly after she was inaugurated into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame
Nellie with her memorabilia from flying “99 New Magazine”

7. Accomplishments
Nellie Zabel Willhite broke gender barriers within the male dominated aviation field, as well as broke barriers between the hearing and deaf worlds
Refused to be seen as “disabled” from a young age
When receiving her pilot’s license, she became the first woman pilot in South Dakota and the first deaf pilot licensed to fly in the United States
With many superstitions in the aviation field, Nellie scoffed at the idea and took her first solo flight on Friday the 13th
Was the co-founder of the group “Ninety-Nine” along with her colleague, Amelia Earhart. This was a national organization for licensed female pilots
Founded the South Dakota chapter of the Ninety Nine Club in 1942
Was inducted in the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 1978 and the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in 1991
Her airplane “Pard” can be seen displayed at the Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham, Alabama

8. Video
Besides articles and museum displays, very little has been done to show the history and accomplishments of Nellie Zabel Willhite, which include any kind of video. Instead, here is a video of Southwest Airlines giving an internship to a deaf applicant, Jordan Livingston As you watch, try to find the similarities between Nellie and Jordan with the age of hearing loss, the passion for flying, the support of an instructor and the support of parents.

9. Work Cited Buffington, Glenn. "Early Bird Vignette. " Ninety-Nine News
Work Cited Buffington, Glenn. "Early Bird Vignette." Ninety-Nine News. Ninety-Nine News, Sept Web. 20 Mar < Pitlick, Wendy. "An Extraordinary Woman." Black Hills Pioneer. Black Hills Pioneer, 17 Sept Web. 20 Mar < Smith, Clayton F. "Dakota Images." South Dakota State Historical Society, Web. 18 Mar Weinstein , Dorene. "A Pioneer of Flight." Nellie Willhite. South Dakota Magazine, May & june Web. 20 Mar <