VA Vol 4 No 6 June 1976 - EAA Vintage Members Only

W () ,"~N IN AVIATI()N WomenWho SellCurtiss-W rigI.t,VintageI~~(~~ "- Men and Th.r+" .~~~:::-~/ ~......-v -' -"'?~~ J~ ' ~- -.Taken From The Curtnew responsibilities, a husband, a pilot's license and a job as aCurtiss-Wright saleswoman at their Alameda. Calif.,baseLorraine Defren is the Boston base's saleslady,as well as president and organizerof the Women's Wingand Prop Club of NewEnglandHelen Cox, newest woman transport pilot,is stationed at the home base airportat Valley Stream, L. 1., todemonstrate and sell Curtiss­Wright productsFrances Harrell, transport pilot, formerlydemonstrated ships for "Brownie" atValley Stream. L. 1. Now she isselling the flying qualities ofCurtiss-Wright ships all over thecountry by the sure way inwhich she manipulates themwith the Curtiss-WrightExhibition Company@.­Dallas, Texas. base The up-to-date Curtiss-Wright version of last year'smaxim "Sell the woman, sell the plane" is "Let thewoman sell the plane." And so she has and is rightbriskly at several of the Flying Service bases.At least a dozen women are employed in varioussales capacities by Curtiss-Wright. They sell not onlyships but flying courses and accessories to men as wellas to women, and by their presence in the industrythey undoubtedly have considerable influence in sellingthe idea of flying to landlubbing members of both sexes.It is quite important in making a sale if she who sellsthe plane can demonstrate its talking points in person tohim or her who buys. Most of the women who sellCurtiss-Wright planes have pilot's licenses. Those whohaven't are well on their way to getting them. Two ofthe women have transport licenses, two have limitedcommercial licenses and the others are private pilots.Women have sold stocks and bonds, real estaeand life insurance, and automobiles, as well as subscriptionsto magazines and ribbons and hosiery overthe counter. Now they are selling airplanes, €lyinglessons and accessories. They are particularly successfulin the sale of flying courses. Eight of the dozen Curtiss­Wright saleswomen learned to fly at Curtiss-WrightFlying Service bases. And who other than a graduateof a school is better equipped to tell a prospect aboutEDITOR'S NOTE: A tribute to the many w(