The Stephens Akro, a monowing aerobatic plane displayed on its side in The Museum of Flight’s Great Gallery, has a unique history tied to pioneering women pilots. The aircraft was originally designed for Margaret Ritchie, a stunt pilot active during the 1960s.
Margaret Ritchie’s interest in aerobatics began after her husband George bought her a clipped-wing Taylorcraft in 1963. Known as “The Flying Grandmother,” she won the 1966 National Women’s Aerobatic Championship with this plane but soon sought an aircraft better suited to advanced maneuvers. George collaborated with Clayton Stephens and Ed Allenbaugh at Flabob Airport in Riverside, California, to create the Stephens Akro. They incorporated features such as an expanded canopy to fit Margaret’s beehive hairstyle. The prototype first flew in July 1967.
Margaret described her initial experience: “It was love at first flight.” She noted that the Akro was more capable than she could fully utilize and more responsive than her previous aircraft. Only two months after acquiring it, she placed second at the 1967 National Women’s Aerobatic Championship in Reno. Plans for building the Akro were soon made available to home builders.
Margaret Ritchie died in an accident in 1968 at age 43 after losing consciousness while flying; she was buried with her Akro.
Meanwhile, Joann Osterud from Seattle began her aviation career around this time. After earning her license in 1969, she worked for Lynden Air Transport in Alaska before becoming Alaska Airlines’ first female pilot and only the sixth female commercial airline pilot in the United States by 1975.
Joann also pursued stunt flying and purchased a Stephens Akro from Jerry Zimmerman in 1976. In 1989, she broke Dorothy Stenzel’s record for most outside loops by completing 208 loops over two hours, raising $1,364.67 for United Way of Southeastern Oregon through sponsorships per loop. Stenzel commented to Sports Illustrated: “I believed it was well past time the record was broken.” Joann continued performing aerobatics and set records for longest inverted flight and continuous inverted flight—4 hours and 38 minutes—in 1991 by training upside down at home.
Her stunt-flying career ended after an accident totaled her plane in 1997; however, she remained unharmed. In 1994, Joann donated her Akro to The Museum of Flight where it now hangs on display alongside images from her air show performances. Joann Osterud passed away in 2017.
Those interested can view more about Joann Osterud and her aircraft through the Museum’s online collection.
