Turi Widerøe
Encyclopedia
Turi Widerøe was Norway's first female air transport pilot. The daughter of aviator Viggo Widerøe
, she was originally educated as a book designer. She later took a pilot's education, and, employed by Scandinavian Airlines System
, became the first female pilot in a larger airline in the western world. After ending her flight career she worked for numerous cultural institutions such as the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, Gyldendal
, Oslo Nye Teater
and Riksteatret
.
as a daughter of Viggo Widerøe
(1904–2002) and Solveig Schrøder (1914–1989). Her father was a noted aviator who founded Widerøe's Flyveselskap
, a regional airline in Norway, in 1934. She was also a niece of noted engineer Rolf Widerøe.
Between 1972 and 1975 she was married to artist Karl Erik Harr
. They had two children. She currently lives in Majorstuen
near Frogner stadion
in Oslo.
's book Valgets brodd. She worked two years for the printing press Grøndahl & Søn, and from 1960 to 1964 she edited National Association of Norwegian Architects's periodical Byggekunst. She then took her private pilot's license in 1962. After a brief time working various jobs in Inner Troms
, she acquired her commercial license in 1965. She flew the de Havilland Otter seaplane and later Twin Otter for Widerøe's Flyveselskap, first as co-pilot, from 1966 as captain. Her aviator father reportedly viewed her career choice with slight dismay. In 1968, she was employed by SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System
). In 1969, she was certified as co-pilot on Convair 440 Metropolitan and became the first female pilot in a larger airline in the western world
. She also flew SAS' first jet aircraft, the Caravelle
, and the DC-9 before she ended her flying career.
In 1974 she wrote a 40th anniversary history of Widerøe's Flyveselskap, published as two articles in the Norwegian Airline Pilots Association
's magazine Cockpit Forum. She had taken the initiative to Cockpit Forum' s predecessor magazine Interno. In 1979, following the end of her flying career, she was given a fellowship in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. She worked as a secretary and presenter there from 1980 to 1986, and from 1986 to 1988 she was an editor in the publishing house Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
. She then held various consultant jobs. She was information director in Norsk forbund for fjernundervisning for some time, and around 2000 she worked with public information for Oslo Nye Teater
and Riksteatret
. She was also involved in Foreningen det nasjonale flymuseum, opposing the establishment of the Norwegian Aviation Museum in Bodø
. In 2006 she took a master's degree in history at the University of Tromsø
.
In the 1970s she was involved in a legal case which gathered media attention. She filed a police complaint on the "less corteous" behavior of a cab driver in October 1970, and the cab driver was given a fine as well as loss of his cab licence. This decision was upheld by Oslo City Court
in 1971. Verdens Gang
' s news coverage spawned a series of letters to the editor. The cab driver appealed to the Appeals Selection Committee of the Supreme Court of Norway
, and the case was accepted for trial in the court of appeal
. In September 1971 it surfaced that the prosecuting authority
dropped the case, leading to a withdrawal of the City Court indictment.
in 1969 and the FAI Paul Tissandier Diploma in Paris in 2005, on the 100 year anniversary of the aviation organization. Some forty years after her pioneering work, there is still a lack of female pilots in Norway.
Viggo Widerøe
Viggo Widerøe was a Norwegian aviator and entrepreneur. He founded Widerøe's Flyveselskap, Norway's third largest airline, in 1934. The airline is still in operation today.-Personal life:...
, she was originally educated as a book designer. She later took a pilot's education, and, employed by Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
, became the first female pilot in a larger airline in the western world. After ending her flight career she worked for numerous cultural institutions such as the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, Gyldendal
Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, commonly referred to as Gyldendal, is one of the largest Norwegian publishing houses .-Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS:Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS was founded in 1925...
, Oslo Nye Teater
Oslo Nye Teater
Oslo Nye Teater in Oslo is one of Norway's most visited theatres.The theatre opened in 1959 as a merge between Det Nye Teater and Folketeatret, and consists of four stages; Oslo Nye Hovedscenen, Oslo Nye Centralteatret, Oslo Nye Trikkestallen and Oslo Nye Caféscenen.-External links:*...
and Riksteatret
Riksteatret
Riksteatret is a Norwegian touring theatre. It was established by law in 1948. Its first performance was in Kirkenes in 1949, with Sigurd Christiansen's play En reise i natten. The theatre plays on about 200 different stages throughout the country. Its first theatre director was Fritz von der...
.
Personal life
She was born in OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as a daughter of Viggo Widerøe
Viggo Widerøe
Viggo Widerøe was a Norwegian aviator and entrepreneur. He founded Widerøe's Flyveselskap, Norway's third largest airline, in 1934. The airline is still in operation today.-Personal life:...
(1904–2002) and Solveig Schrøder (1914–1989). Her father was a noted aviator who founded Widerøe's Flyveselskap
Widerøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
, a regional airline in Norway, in 1934. She was also a niece of noted engineer Rolf Widerøe.
Between 1972 and 1975 she was married to artist Karl Erik Harr
Karl Erik Harr
Karl Erik Harr is a Norwegian painter, illustrator, graphic artist and author, best known for his representations of Northern-Norwegian scenery and coastal history.-Background:...
. They had two children. She currently lives in Majorstuen
Majorstuen
Majorstuen is a neighbourhood in the Frogner borough in the western part of Oslo, Norway.Majorstuen is known for its vibrant downtown, especially its shopping area. The area has several elegant townhouses circa 1880-1890. The area is also an important public transport junction in Oslo, where all...
near Frogner stadion
Frogner stadion
Frogner stadion is a sports stadium in Oslo, Norway. It is located close to the Frogner Park, between the park and Majorstuen.-History:It opened in 1901, and was built by Kristiania Skøiteklub. In 1914, the stadium was moved to its current position, due to the Oslo Jubilee exhibition...
in Oslo.
Career
In 1958 she graduated as a book designer from the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry, following a four-year education. In the same year she was awarded for her design of Solveig ChristovSolveig Christov
Solveig Beda Christov was a Norwegian novelist, writer of short stories, and playwright.-Early and personal life:...
's book Valgets brodd. She worked two years for the printing press Grøndahl & Søn, and from 1960 to 1964 she edited National Association of Norwegian Architects's periodical Byggekunst. She then took her private pilot's license in 1962. After a brief time working various jobs in Inner Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
, she acquired her commercial license in 1965. She flew the de Havilland Otter seaplane and later Twin Otter for Widerøe's Flyveselskap, first as co-pilot, from 1966 as captain. Her aviator father reportedly viewed her career choice with slight dismay. In 1968, she was employed by SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
). In 1969, she was certified as co-pilot on Convair 440 Metropolitan and became the first female pilot in a larger airline in the western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
. She also flew SAS' first jet aircraft, the Caravelle
Sud Aviation Caravelle
The Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was the first short/medium-range jet airliner produced by the French Sud Aviation firm starting in 1955 . The Caravelle was one of the more successful European first generation jetliners, selling throughout Europe and even penetrating the United States market, with...
, and the DC-9 before she ended her flying career.
In 1974 she wrote a 40th anniversary history of Widerøe's Flyveselskap, published as two articles in the Norwegian Airline Pilots Association
Norwegian Airline Pilots Association
The Norwegian Airline Pilots Association is a trade union of civil airline pilots in Norway.It was established as a merger in 1977. It has about 1300 members, and had its headquarters at Oksenøya near Fornebu...
's magazine Cockpit Forum. She had taken the initiative to Cockpit Forum
Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, commonly referred to as Gyldendal, is one of the largest Norwegian publishing houses .-Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS:Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS was founded in 1925...
. She then held various consultant jobs. She was information director in Norsk forbund for fjernundervisning for some time, and around 2000 she worked with public information for Oslo Nye Teater
Oslo Nye Teater
Oslo Nye Teater in Oslo is one of Norway's most visited theatres.The theatre opened in 1959 as a merge between Det Nye Teater and Folketeatret, and consists of four stages; Oslo Nye Hovedscenen, Oslo Nye Centralteatret, Oslo Nye Trikkestallen and Oslo Nye Caféscenen.-External links:*...
and Riksteatret
Riksteatret
Riksteatret is a Norwegian touring theatre. It was established by law in 1948. Its first performance was in Kirkenes in 1949, with Sigurd Christiansen's play En reise i natten. The theatre plays on about 200 different stages throughout the country. Its first theatre director was Fritz von der...
. She was also involved in Foreningen det nasjonale flymuseum, opposing the establishment of the Norwegian Aviation Museum in Bodø
Bodø
is a city and a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten region.The city of Bodø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Bodin was merged with Bodø on 1 January 1968. Skjerstad was merged with Bodø on 1 January 2005...
. In 2006 she took a master's degree in history at the University of Tromsø
University of Tromsø
The University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway...
.
In the 1970s she was involved in a legal case which gathered media attention. She filed a police complaint on the "less corteous" behavior of a cab driver in October 1970, and the cab driver was given a fine as well as loss of his cab licence. This decision was upheld by Oslo City Court
Oslo District Court
Oslo District Court is the district court serving Oslo, Norway. Cases may be appealed to Borgarting Court of Appeal. As the largest district court in Norway, it handles about 20% of all cases in the country...
in 1971. Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang , generally known under the abbreviation VG, is a Norwegian tabloid newspaper...
Appeals Selection Committee of the Supreme Court of Norway
The Appeals Selection Committee of the Supreme Court was originally a court of Norway in its own right, however, it does not anymore constitute an instance – a case will be decided upon either by the Appeals Selection Committee or by the Supreme Court...
, and the case was accepted for trial in the court of appeal
Court of appeal (Norway)
In Norway, the court of appeal is the second level of courts of justice, reviewing criminal and civil cases appealed from the district courts. There are six courts of appeal, each covering a jurisdiction and based in a city. Each court is led by a senior judge president and several appellate...
. In September 1971 it surfaced that the prosecuting authority
Norwegian Prosecuting Authority
Norwegian Prosecuting Authority is a body subordinate to the Norwegian Council of State.This body is responsible for legal prosecutions in Norway. It is divided into three branches. The third branch is the Prosecuting Authority in the Police. The first two, the Office of the Director of Public...
dropped the case, leading to a withdrawal of the City Court indictment.
Awards and legacy
Her first uniform is displayed in the National Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC. She was awarded the Harmon Aviatrix TrophyHarmon Trophy
The Harmon Trophy is a set of three international trophies, to be awarded annually to the world's outstanding aviator, aviatrix , and aeronaut...
in 1969 and the FAI Paul Tissandier Diploma in Paris in 2005, on the 100 year anniversary of the aviation organization. Some forty years after her pioneering work, there is still a lack of female pilots in Norway.