Aida De Acosta

About

The first woman to fly solo in a powered balloon. Her historic flight, which took place in France, lasted just under two hours.

Before Fame

She convinced Alberto Santos-Dumont to allow her to pilot his dirigible, which he had named "IX."

Trivia

She suffered from glaucoma and lost her vision in one eye. This event inspired her to establish a bank in which to store transplant-ready human corneas.

Family Life

She and her seven brothers and sisters were the children of a businessman father of Cuban heritage and an affluent Spanish mother. She was married and divorced twice, and she gave birth to a son and a daughter.

Associated With

She was nominated by New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia to serve as the city's Municipal Art Committee chairperson.