AWE at the Zonta International Annual Meeting dedicated to Amelia Earhart and women in aviation held in Rome, 6th October 2005 at the "House of the Aviator" c/o Italian Airforce.

Zonta International has as it's mission to "Advance the Status of Women Worldwide" www.zonta.org.

Their Amelia Earhart Fund this year was awarded to an aerospace engineering student from Istanbul. Congratulations! 

Amongst the speakers were: Carla Dado' Allegra, Magda Andalo' Vimercati, Maria Fede Caproni, Capt. Paola Verde, Capt. Paola Della Santa, Fiorenza de Bernardi, Lt. Debora Corbi and Maria Concetta Micheli.

Maria Fede Caproni, daughter of aviation pioneer Giovanni Caproni, told funny anecdotes and gaffes about Amelia Earhart's stay in Italy as well as announcing the project of producing a film from original unpublished material.

Fiorenza de Bernardi, daughter of Mario de Bernardi and 1st Italian woman airline pilot and 5th in the world, started flying for Aeralpi in 1967. Fiorenza told of her "battles for aviation and for women" and mentioned that Michelle Bassanesi won this year's ISA+21, International Association of Women Airline Pilots Scholarship for the Flight Instructor rating. During these past six months she has sorted through the Italian airforce archives and catalogued much forgotten information which may soon be published.  

Maria Concetta Micheli, 1st Italian woman helicopter pilot and instructor, not o­nly was instrumental in having women accepted as helicopter pilots but also created audiovisuals for educating children in aviation. The Italian Marines now have a female helicopter pilot in their ranks.

Capt. Paola Verde, Aerospace Medical Examiner, amongst her other important accomplishments is also o­ne of three non-russians to have the title "Space Flight Surgeon." Capt. Verde is also o­ne of very few Italian women to have flown the F-16. Determination has been her strength and her success!

Lt. Debora Corbi, 1st woman in the Italian Airforce. As she was growing up she was very keen o­n wearing a uniform, so much so that she was instrumental in the passing of Law Number 380 in 1999 which allowed women into the Italian Armed forces. 2005 sees the graduation of the first women military pilots! Lt. Corbi reminds us "Dreams do come true. Study. Be prepared. Your dreams will come true!"

Capt. Paola Della Santa, learnt to fly o­n her own resources and is now o­ne of five women flying the Fokker 100 for Alpieagles.

These ladies have been invited to be an active part of AWE 2006!