Who is Wally Funk?

Mary Wallace “Wally” Funk is an American aviator and Goodwill Ambassador who was born on February 1, 1939. She was a member of the Mercury 13 and the first female aviation safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board. She was also the first female civilian flying instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the first female Federal Aviation Agency inspector.

On Blue Origin’s New Shepard spaceship, Funk is set to become the oldest person to go to space.

Funk began her career as a professional aviator when she was 20 years old.

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In 1968, Funk became the 58th woman in the United States to receive her Airline Transport Rating. She applied to three commercial airlines but was turned down, along with other competent female pilots, due to her gender.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) selected Funk as its first female Air Safety Investigator in 1974. Funk looked into 450 incidents, which included anything from a possible mob hit to a deadly wreck at a mortuary. She discovered that victims who die in small-plane crashes frequently had their jewellery, shoes, and clothing torn from them by the collision.

Funk volunteered for the “Women in Space” Program in February 1961. Despite the lack of formal government support, William Randolph Lovelace directed the effort. Lovelace was approached by Funk, who detailed her background and accomplishments. Funk was allowed to participate despite being younger than the recruitment age range of 25-40. Twenty-five women applied, 19 were accepted, and 13 graduated, including Funk, who was the youngest at 21 years old. She outperformed John Glenn on certain exams. The group was nicknamed the “Mercury 13” by the media, a reference to the Mercury 7.

Funk, like the other programme participants, was put through rigorous physical and mental testing.

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Volunteers were put in sensory deprivation chambers in one experiment. Funk was in the tank for a record-breaking 10 hours and 35 minutes without hallucinating. She passed all of her exams and was now eligible to travel to space. In the Mercury 13 programme, she received the third highest score. Despite this, the programme was terminated just as the women were about to complete their last exam.

Funk became a Goodwill Ambassador after the Mercury 13 programme was cancelled.

Funk has served as the head pilot at five different aviation schools in the United States. She has soloed over 700 pupils and 3,000 Private, Commercial, Multi-engine, Seaplane, Glider, Instrument, CFI, Al, and Air Transport Pilots as a professional Flight Instructor.