A contemporary and rival of Amelia Earhart, Jackie Cochran shattered more speed, altitude, and distance records than any pilot of her time, male or female.
She became the first woman to break the sound barrier and was instrumental in founding the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II, helping to change the role of women in the military forever.
But Jackie’s story was more than just records and accolades. Born into poverty, she constructed a new identity to escape a past she kept carefully hidden. Her life was a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and ambition that defied the constraints of her era—and gravity itself.
Despite her towering achievements, Jackie Cochran has been largely forgotten by history. A new documentary based on a stage play, The Flight of Jackie Cochran, revisits her legacy, uncovering not only her pioneering accomplishments but also the personal cost of greatness and the silence that followed.
Q&A with director Jessica Anderson and playwright and producer Nancy Hasty to follow!
Event Details
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
This program is FREE for Museum Members and included in the cost of General Admission.
