Mary Bush Shipko, aviation pioneer and author, will present “Women & Aviation in the Twentieth Century,” a look at women’s aviation history from the beginning including highlights from each decade, at the next meeting of the Northern Neck-Middle Peninsula Chapter of the Virginia Aeronautical Society.

The luncheon meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17, at the Pilot House Restaurant, next to Hummel Field in Topping.

Shipko began flying in 1964 in South Florida. She was hired in 1976 as the first female airline pilot for Hughes Air West, owned by famed aviator and movie producer Howard Hughes. She earned her airline transport rating and DC-3 type rating in 1974 and also holds a Curtis C-46 type rating. Other aircraft she flew include the Constellation 1049H, DC-6, and DC-7CF. In addition, she flew the Fairchild F-27, Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 727.Shipko has written three books: a memoir titled “Aviatrix,” the children’s book “Daring Mary: Aviation Pioneer” and “...