Wally Funk is a veteran aviator from America. She has been flying as a professional pilot since the age of twenty. Moreover, Funk has worked as an instructor for new pilots over the years. She was also an Air Safety Investigator for eleven years at the National Transportation Safety Board.
The aviator pilot is a courageous woman who has defied the odds in the aviation business. She is also the first lady to become a civilian flight instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Furthermore, Wally was one of the successful candidates of Mercury 13. Along with other twelve female co-workers, she went under physiological screening tests to perceive how women would feel in space.
With such rich background, many are eager to know more about the Goodwill Ambassador. So let's go through Wally Funk's biography and get to know her better.
Jared Isaacman Biography - Businessman And Aerobatic Pilot
Early Life And Family
Wally was born Mary Wallace Funk, on February 1, 1939, in Las Vegas, New Mexico. However, her family moved to Taos, New Mexico, and she grew up there. Moreover, Wally Funk's parents operated a variety store catering to the artistic community. They collected artworks from artists like Bert Phillips, Dorothy Brett, and Oscar Berninghaus, which Funk still has at her home.
The aviator discovered airplanes when she was barely a year old. It must have been a unique experience for a toddler to see an aircraft flying in the sky. Then at the age of five, little Wally leaped off her family barn while donning a Superman costume. But she couldn't fly and landed in a haystack instead. Still, her flying ambition remained strong, which would later turn out into her dream job.
Funk's family was also the first to encourage her to follow her dream and never feel afraid.
Wally Funk used to build model airplanes when she was a little girl. Photo Source: Social Media.
In her high school, the teen wanted to take mechanical drawing and auto mechanics but, her gender limited her to home economics. But she graduated early and enrolled at Stephens College at the age of sixteen.
Moreover, the college opened her up to new opportunities and helped fulfill her dream of becoming a pilot. As a result, Mary Wallace graduated with an Associate Arts Of Degree in 1958. She was also rated first in her class of twenty-four fliers and later awarded with Alumna Achievement Award in 1964.
The airwoman then enrolled at the Oklahoma State University, where she earned her Commercial, Single-engine Land, Multi-engine Land, Flight Instructor's, Ground Instructor's, etc., ratings. She finished with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education.
Furthermore, right after graduation, the pilot got her first job as a Civilian Flight Instructor in the United States Army. She trained both commissioned and non-commissioned officers there.
Wally Funk Aviation Career
Aforementioned, Wally Funk began her job in the Army base in Oklahoma. She was the first female flight instructor to be appointed at the U.S.A. military base. Furthermore, the trainer became a Certified Flight Instructor and Chief Pilot in the aviation company at Hawthrone, California, in late 1961.
The flight industry recognized the flyer as one of the Outstanding Young Women In America in 1965. She also received the FAA Gold Seal as a Flight Instructor, becoming the 58th American woman to receive the Airline Transport Rating. Moreover, Wally became the first woman to complete the Federal Aviation Administration's general Aviation Operations Inspector Academy course. As a result, she got the rating of flight inspector in 1971.
Afterward, the flight instructor worked for FAA for four years as a field examiner. She then got promoted to a specialist in FAA SWAP in 1973. A year later, Funk began working as an Air Safety Investigator in the National Transportation Safety Board. She investigated the causes of the airplanes accidents and how the pilots can eliminate them during her time in NTSA. Moreover, Funk finally retired after eleven years of service at NTSB in 1985.
The aviator then became an FAA Safety Counselor in August 1985. She also began educating and lecturing in several aviation communities. Wally was a key speaker at The World Aviation Education and Safety Congress in New Delhi in 1986. She was also appointed Chief Pilot in August 1987 at Emery Aviation College.
Wally Funk spent more than four decades flying the planes and instructing the new pilots on plane operations. Photo Source: Social Media.
Alongside instructing, the pilot also competed in aircraft races. She was a runner-up in the Palms to Pines All Women Air Race on August 16, 1975. Moreover, the air safety investigator won the Pacific Air Race on October 4, 1975. Additionally, she has been featured on many television shows, radio programs, and magazines for her airforce contribution.
Likewise, Wally Funk has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career years. She was inducted into the Oklahoma State University's Hall of Fame in June 2010. In addition, the veteran pilot was awarded America's first planetarium, Chicago Alder, in 2005 as a Mercury 13 pioneer.
Space Career
In February 1961, the flight instructor volunteered for the Women In Space program ran by William Randolph Lovelace II. The program was based on the earlier program called Mercury 7, where instructors trained male astronauts vigorously to see their reactions in space. Moreover, there were twenty-five female aviators chosen out of 700 candidates for the program. Jerrie Cobb was the first woman selected after passing all three stages of the test.
Afterward, Wally Funk went through a similar test alongside other candidates. Despite being the youngest, she ranked third in the overall process. Although NASA supported the project, sadly, it didn't fund them to go to space. As a result, the thirteen selected pilots only went through training and never flew in space. Moreover, they also didn't meet each other until 1994, when ten of them were introduced by the organizers.
After the ending of Mercury 13, Wally became a goodwill ambassador. She traveled fifty countries of Europe, Africa, and the Mid-East on three -year tour as an ambassador. Moreover, the pilot encourages people to be aware of environmental conservation and preserving nature. She has also participated in many awareness programs during her touring years.
The experience cemented a deep desire to go to space in Wally Funk. She applied for the space pilot after NASA began accepting females in the late 1970s. However, Funk was rejected for not having an engineering degree. She appealed to become a space shuttle pilot in 1995. Again, she was denied due to her age. As a result, Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot a space shuttle into space.
The flyer finally decided to pay $200,000 on a ticket for Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic program in 2012. So after dreaming about space for years, she will finally get a chance to visit space via New Shepherd on July 20, 2021.
Wally is set to join Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos for her first trip to space. They will also be accompanied by a mystery person who paid $28 million for the trip. Wally Funk will also become the oldest person ever to reach space upon its successful mission.
Wally Funk Net Worth
The professional aviator contributed more than three decades of her life to the aviation field. Even after retirement as an investigator, she continued giving lectures and educational speeches in many aviation institutions, colleges, and events. So, Wally Funk's net worth mainly comprises her earnings from her career as a professional pilot. However, it also includes her income from her instruction classes.
Moreover, Funk's salary also comes from her speeches and lectures across many platforms. Also, she has been a guest speaker at many events, which has helped her earn a considerable sum.
Wally Funk has been financially successful from her aviation career. Photo Source: Social Media.
The instructor has logged 19,600 flight hours and taught more than 3000 people to fly across her career. In addition, she has worked in the significant airforce organizations of the U.S.A. However, the former trainer hasn't disclosed her income to the public. Still, Wally Funk's total worth might have increased with her accolade of flying credentials.
Relationship And Dating
The airwoman spent most of her life on planes, be it flying or instructing. Still, she had several relationships which didn't work out. Moreover, Wally Funk's boyfriend didn't show her much, which could transition into something more. As a result, she never got married in her whole life. Additionally, Wally Funk considers her airplanes to be her husband.
The flyer wasn't too focused on settling down and having children during her prime. Instead, she is happy to lead a single life with no worries of babies and running a household. Moreover, even though she isn't married, the pilot wears a band engraved with wings on her ring finger.
Wally Funk is living a comfortable life with no regrets of being unmarried and having no children. Photo Source: Social Media.
Wally Funk is still as energetic and courageous as ever. She is pumped about going to space alongside Jeff Bezos in July 2021. It is a long-withheld dream coming true for the aircraft pilot. Let's hope she will have a successful flight with an incredible experience on her first flight to space.
Trivia And Facts
- Wally Funk began building airplane models by the age of fourteen.
- She also enjoys skiing, riding bikes, and hunting.
- She also received the Distinguished Rifleman's Award at the age of fourteen.
