Background
O'Neill, Norah Ellen was born on August 23, 1949 in Seattle, Washington, United States. Daughter of John Wilson and Bertha Ellen (Moore) O'N.
O'Neill, Norah Ellen was born on August 23, 1949 in Seattle, Washington, United States. Daughter of John Wilson and Bertha Ellen (Moore) O'N.
Student, University California, Santa Barbara, 1967—1968. Student, San Diego State University, 1968—1970. Bachelor of Science in Professional aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
During her thirty-five years as an airline pilot, Norah amassed 22,000 hours and was the first woman in the world to pilot the Douglas DC-8 (1977) and to fly passengers on the Boeing 747 (August, 1980). Piloting large jet transports on trans-pacific routes for Flying Tigers resulted in Norah being photographed and interviewed by Asian publications as the first woman airline pilot to land in Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. Mentoring and encouraging the female aviators who followed her was an important part of Norah's career.
She was one of the founders of the International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISA + 21) in 1978. She served as vice president of that society for two years and as historian for twenty years. Norah continues to speak at schools and institutions about women pursuing their dream careers.
Norah has been featured in exhibits about women in aviation at various air and space museums, including the San Diego Aerospace Museum (1994) and the "Chasing Horizons: Women in Aerospace" exhibit at the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle (2010). In 2009, Norah was inducted into the International Forest of Friendship for her outstanding contributions to aviation. In 2010 she was one of 100 women pioneers honored by the University of Washington Women's Center at the suffrage centennial gala, "Women Unbound".
Since retirement in 2009, Norah has resided in the Pacific Northwest where she creates wearable art for Tigress One Designs.
Member Airline Pilots Association, 747 Pilot Federal Express, Women Airline Pilots Society (co-founder 1978, vice president 1979-1980), The 99's (honorary).
Married Scott Reynolds, January 31, 1970 (divorced April 1973). Married John Rankin, September 1978 (divorced May 1981) Married Scott Edward Byerley, January 29, 1983 (divorced December 1994). Children: Cameron, Bren Maxey.