EDITH LITCHFIELD DENNY, the daughter of
Goodyear’s President logged many hours at the controls of the first
three Goodyear Blimps. She held the record number of hours flown by
a woman in Blimps for many years and planned to get her
Lighter-than-Air Licence.
Edith lived in Canada so long, we considered
her one of our own.
She met her lifelong partner, a young Purdue
graduate Wallace Denny while he was on course training to fly the
Goodyear Blimps in Akron, Ohio. They were married in 1930 and left
their wedding reception in the "PILGRIM". Wally Denny earned his
wings in both Balloon and Lighter-than-Air. His licenses were signed
by Orville Wright.
Above, Edith Denny with a C-180 CF-HOH in 1964. (photo
courtesy of the Edith Denny Collection)
Edith settled down to raise a family of two
girls and a boy. She postponed her plans to get her Lighter-than-Air
Licence, but at every opportunity she would still fly the airships,
be it hunting coyote in Arizona, sightseeing in Miami or just local
flights around Ohio. After moving to Toronto in 1938, Wally got his
fixed wing Private Licence. Edith still had a fear of aeroplanes, in
exact opposite ratio to her faith in Blimps.
In 1949, she made a decision to learn to fly.
After the first few hours of sheer terror, she became hooked on
flying and finally got her Private Licence to fly fixed wing.
Wally bought a float plane in 1958 so that they
could fly to their cottage in Temagami and share
their flying adventures together once again.
Above, Wally and Eddy, with CF-SKY. (photo
courtesy of The Edith Denny Collection)
They both held their Multi-Engine Instrument
ratings, Land and Sea by 1960 in their Piper Aztec CF-SKY. The Denny
Magic Carpet flew them all over the Continent, from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, every Province in Canada, from the North to the South,
to Chile, the circumference of South America, across the Andes and
all the Caribbean Islands.
Edith contributed a great deal to the 99s
organization, both in Canada and the U.S. While she was a
member-at-large in the early sixties, she reactivated the First
Canadian Section in 1966.with 25 members.
Without her dedicated efforts, we might have
remained dormant. She served as the Governor for two years. Edith
held several International positions with the 99s Executive Board in
1969, 1970, 1971. Traveling extensively, she established the
Columbia Orchid (South American) Chapter and Finnish Section,
sponsoring members in Sweden, Kenya, Ecuador and the Philippines.
Edith was a Director of COPA, a member of AOPA, NAA, Wingfoot,
Lighter-than-Air Society and the Australian Airwomen’s Association.
In 1978 Edith was presented with a
Commemorative Plaque from the First Canadian Chapter before leaving
to retire in Litchfield, Arizona. She was sponsored in the Forest of
Friendship that same year and said it was the highlight of her
flying career. (Edith remained a member of First Canadian Chapter.)
The Denny’s were both members of the United
Flying Octogenarians (UFOs) - the most exclusive aviation club in
the world. The only requirement is that a solo flight be made on or
after one’s 80th birthday. An annual meeting is held in
conjunction with the AOPA Convention in the U.S.
For her 50th birthday, Wally gave
Edith a course in aerobatics. She never failed to marvel at the
sheer joy and challenge of flying. Her legacy to us all, was her
enthusiasm and love of aviation.
The Denny’s celebrated their 70th
Wedding Anniversary in October, 2000.
Edith died January 23, 2001 in her 91st
year.
Shirley Allen
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