Heflin, Alma (fl. 1930s)

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Heflin, Alma (fl. 1930s)

American pilot. Name variations: Alma Heflin McCormick. Born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania; flourished in 1930s.

Began flying lessons in Spokane, Washington (1934); became 1st woman to lead annual light plane cavalcade to Florida (1938); served as publicity director for Piper Aircraft Corporation and edited Piper's Cub Flier; became 1st woman test pilot for a commercial aircraft company, for Piper (1941); bush piloted in Alaska (1942); hired by US Army to test planes used for "Grasshopper Squadron."

See also memoir Adventure Was the Compass (1942).