Lilian Bland, The World's First Woman to Build and Fly Her Own Plane

Lilian Bland was a true pioneer, an unconventional, fearless woman who defied the expectations of early 20th-century society to make her mark in aviation history.

She wasn’t just content to watch from the sidelines as the era of flight took off; she became an innovator, designing, building, and flying her own aircraft at a time when few women were involved in engineering, let alone aviation.

Born on 28 September 1878 in Maidstone, Kent, Lilian came from a long line of Irish ancestors. In 1900, her father moved the family back to Carnmoney, County Antrim, where she developed a love for the outdoors.

Roaming Carnmoney Hill, she spent hours watching birds in flight, sketching, and capturing their movements with her camera. This fascination with flight would later influence her approach to aeroplane design.