Empowering Women in Aviation
Join us in the Monterey Bay Ninety-Nines and soar to new heights with a community dedicated to supporting women pilots.
An Engaged Community of Women Pilots
Annual Scholarship for Current or Future Pilots
Education Activities for the Next Generation
Aviation Activities and Inspiring Speakers
MB99s Scholarship
Thanks to the generosity of a long-standing member, each year the Monterey Bay chapter of The Ninety-Nines offers a $2000 scholarship to a local woman resident of Monterey or Santa Cruz County.
It may be used to obtain a private pilot license or to work towards an advanced rating to further pursue her career in aviation.
Applications close November 30, 2024
About The Ninety-Nines
We are a chapter of The Ninety-Nines, Inc, the international organization of women pilots.
Founded in 1965, our chapter’s mission is to promote the advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support while fostering a spirit of camaraderie among women pilots.
We organize include fly-ins, fly-outs, local dinners, and invite inspiring local speakers to our monthly meetings.
We are committed to inspiring and empowering women to achieve their aviation dreams and to play a significant role in the aviation industry.
Monthly meetings:
Our monthly meetings alternate between the EAA Hangar at Watsonville Airport or the conference room at Salinas Airport offices, and we welcome guests and potential members. We meet at 6:30 pm on the third Wednesday of each month.
Click the button for details on where to find us.
from humble beginnings...
On November 2, 1929, twenty-six women gathered at Curtiss Airport, Valley Stream, New York. The first order of business was the selection of Neva Paris as temporary chairman. Business was conducted in a hangar above the din of a Curtiss Challenger engine running up as mechanics continued to work around them. Tea was served from a toolbox wagon on wheels.
Club eligibility and purpose were quickly decided upon. Membership would be open to any woman with a pilot’s license, and the purpose was “good fellowship, jobs, and a central office and files on women in aviation.” Choosing a name was a little harder. Some suggestions were: The Climbing Vines, Noisy Birdwomen, Homing Pigeons and Gadflies.
Amelia Earhart and Jean Davis Hoyt put a stop to the nonsense, proposing the name be taken from the sum total of charter members. Thus, the group was momentarily the 86s, then the 97s and finally the The Ninety-Nines. Amelia Earhart became the group’s first elected president in 1931.
Each member was an outstanding person in her own right. They made contributions to aviation totally out of proportion to their numbers.
Scan this QR code or click the button below to donate to the Monterey Bay 99s via Square, using a credit or debit card.
Contribute to Support our Mission
Monterey Bay 99s is a 501(c)(3) organization and is able to accept tax-deductible donations.
Your donation will be used to offer scholarships to women becoming new pilots and training for further ratings and to provide education, encouragement, and inspiration to young women and girls about careers in aviation.
If you would like to leave a bequest to Monterey Bay 99s, you’ll find our Nonprofit details at the base of the page.
On Our Calendar for 2024
Aviation Scholarship
Applications close November 30th, 2024
Annual scholarship for a student pilot or licensed pilot who is a resident of Monterey or Santa Cruz County.
For additional information and an application, click below.
Second Weekends
Second Weekend, Each Month
FREE
- Display of historical aircraft with Monterey Bay 99s docents.
- Discounts on fuel all weekend
- Ella’s at the Airport offers menu specials
Come chat with us, or have a tour at the Watsonville Municipal Airport, 100 Aviation Way, Watsonville
2024 Fire in the Sky
August 31, 2024
Gates open at 4:30pm. Free Admission. Free parking on the crosswind runway.
Watsonville’s Airport Open House includes first responder aviation assets, local agri-business flight departments, antique aircraft, flyovers, parachute flag jump, live music, free Kidz Zone, food vendors, and a drone light show!
Watsonville Municipal Airport, 100 Aviation Way, Watsonville
Benefits of Membership
Join the Monterey Bay 99s Today!
If you are a licensed woman pilot, or student pilot we invite you to join The Ninety-Nines, Inc. and then come to a #meeting and join our chapter.
Come to a meeting and get acquainted with some interesting women flyers. The Ninety-Nines promotes world fellowship through flying, scholarship opportunities for women, aviation education in the community, and safeguarding the unique history of women in aviation. We are strengthened by our members and in turn, our members draw strength from the organization.
Don’t have your license yet? Not a problem. You can join as a Student Pilot to give you all the support and encouragement you’ll need to complete your training.