Renowned aviator to speak on Southeastern campus Oct. 14

Press Release Date: 10-08-2010

DURANT, Okla. – Nationally-renowned aviator Wally Funk will speak in the Glen D. Johnson Student Union on the campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Oct. 14. in 323 in the Student Union

The event, sponsored by the Southeastern Aviation Alumni Association, will begin at 2 p.m.

Funk has been flying professionally since 1957 and has accumulated more than 17,000 hours of flying time.

She was one of the "Mercury 13," having volunteered in 1961 (at age 21)

for the "Women in Space" program. Only 25 women were chosen for testing, and she ranked third in the field of 13 candidates attempting to qualify for the Mercury Astronaut program.

Also that year, she was employed in California as a certified flight instructor, charter and chief pilot.

In 1971, Funk was the first woman to successfully complete the FAA General Aviation Operations Inspector Academy course, which includes pilot certification and flight testing procedures, handling accidents and violations. This led her to an interest in parachute jumping, ballooning, and hang-gliding.