05/28/2024
This was posted in the Ninety Nines FB page some days ago. I raced many times in the Air Race Classic along side Gene Nora. She was a total aviation rockstar, a fantastic person and a tough competitor. Her life story is fascinating! RIP Gene Nora. Always wishing you blue skies and tailwinds...til we meet again!!
In Memoriam: Gene Nora Jessen
Gene Nora Jessen, known affectionately as Janora, was a pioneering aviator whose legacy spanned teaching, research, and writing, leaving an indelible mark on the history of aviation.
While working her way through The University of Oklahoma, she served on the faculty teaching flying, an early testament to her passion and dedication to aviation.
In the summer of 1961, Gene Nora took part in a groundbreaking female astronaut research program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Among the elite group of thirteen women pilots, later dubbed the "Mercury 13," she successfully passed the rigorous astronaut physical exams.
Although further testing was canceled, this remarkable achievement did not go unnoticed, inspiring five books that chronicled this significant, though often overlooked, chapter in space exploration history.
Gene Nora's commitment to aviation extended beyond the skies to leadership and historical preservation.
She served as President of The Ninety-Nines, Inc., an international organization of licensed women pilots. Her involvement with the group's museum sparked an exhaustive research journey into the history of early women pilots.
This led to her acclaimed book, "The Powder Puff Derby of 1929," published in 2001, which detailed the first women's transcontinental air race and ignited her own passion for air racing.
In 1962, Gene Nora joined Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas, as a sales demonstration pilot. She gained prominence as one of the Three Musketeers, flying formation across forty-eight states in ninety days to promote the new Beech Musketeer. Her role evolved, leading to additional ratings and the opportunity to fly the entire Beech line. Her adventures culminated in the publication of "The Fabulous Flight of the Three Musketeers" in 2009, a true testament to her adventurous spirit.
Gene Nora and her husband Bob eventually settled in Boise, Idaho, where they owned and operated a fixed base operation at Boise Airport for many years. Their family grew to include two children and three grandchildren, with whom they shared their love of flying.
Her contributions to the field, her leadership, and her storytelling have left a lasting legacy that will inspire generations of aviators to come.
Gene Nora was comfortable and peaceful when she passed away in the morning, May 21, 2024. Plans are still being made for her Memorial and will be forwarded as soon as they are finalized.
