Wings of the North Free Special Event

On Saturday, March 16, 2024, the Wings of the North Air Museum on Flying Cloud Airport will celebrate the 114th anniversary of Madame Elise Raymonde
de LaRoche of France becoming the first women to receive a government issued pilot’s
license.

The museum will be open from 11am to 3pm for free! In addition, the first 20
children age 12 or younger will receive a free toy airplane.

From noon until 1:30pm three spokespersons will be on hand to help tell the story of women pilots. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Caroline “Blaze” Jensen was the third woman ever selected to fly as a member of the USAF Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team. She was Thunderbird #3 and flew right wing in the supersonic F-16 “Fighting Falcon”. She will be inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame in October.

Cheri Rohlfing is an Airbus A320 Captain with Delta Airlines, Adjunct Professor at
Minnesota State University, Mankato Department of Aviation, and very active in aviation
outreach and mentorship with several youth education programs throughout the state
including MN ACE Camp, Women in Aviation, and MSUM student organizations. She
will be inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in April.

Danielle Hemmingsen is a well-known local WASP reenactor. In World War II the
members of the Womens Airforce Service Pilots provided invaluable service to the war
effort of the United States. In 2006 they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
Dani is honored to be able to tell the story of the WASPs to today’s audiences.

WOTN Air Museum hours are 11am to 3pm every Saturday and Sunday and it is
available for private tours and parties at other times. The museum is located at 14857
Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie MN 55347 which is just inside Gate H on the northwest
corner of Flying Cloud Airport.
More information: wotn.org/museum/