Magnificent women in their flying machines

Marie Marvingt, who was nicknamed the Fiancee Of Danger. Photograph: © National Aviation Museum/Corbis

Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Photograph: CSU Archv/Everett / Rex Features/EVT

Florence Lowe Barnes, the noted Californian airwoman, with the Travelair Mystery monoplane, then one of the world's fastest commercial planes. Photograph: © Underwood & Underwood/Corbis

Katherine Stinson, who was known as the Flying Schoolgirl. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

Amy Johnson, who was born in Hull, was the first woman to fly from Britain to Australia. Photograph: Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Popperfoto