Skyward Pioneer

Helen Clifford (Dulcibella) Dulcibella Evangeline Clifford, also known as Mrs. Oliver Atkey, was a notable figure in early aviation and a famous British female pilot. She was the first woman to receive a British pilot’s licence after World War I and was among the earliest female aviators, being one of only 56 female pilots in the world by 1927. In 1922, she set the record for the longest flight by a female pilot with a passenger. Additionally, she became the first woman to fly across the English Channel with a passenger. In 1923, she was the only female entrant in the Grosvenor Cup, making her possibly the first British female pilot to participate in an air race. Her flight from Leeds to Edgeware the previous year gained widespread attention, as it was reported to be the longest flight by a woman pilot in Britain. Throughout her career, Clifford held several significant records, including the longest flight with a passenger made by a female pilot.