Sonya Lynette Finch 1976- Creston, Iowa
I enlisted into Army National Guard, August, 1993; graduated from UNI, 1999 and
was commissioned as Second Lt in Army Aviation.
Graduated Army Aviation (helicopter) Basic, October 2000. Flew OH-58 Kiowa
helicopters until May 2005. Also trained in the AH-64 Apache helicopter July 2002,
but flew less than 100 hours.
I was the first female to fly the OH-58 and AH-64 Helicopters in the Iowa Army
National Guard and to command within the Cavalry as an aviator in the Iowa Army
National Guard. I donated a flight suit to the museum on Camp Dodge in
Johnston, Iowa. They have a "women in military aviation" section within their
museum.
I transferred to the Air Force in May 2005. Trained on T-6 Texan's and T-38
Talon's. Graduated from Air Force Pilot Training, November 2006. Graduated
from KC-135 (Boeing 707) training, January 2009.
I enlisted in the Army National Guard because I wanted to go through ROTC and
get my commission; then I could become an officer and fly helicopters. I can't tell
you exactly why I wanted to fly, but I think I always knew that I wanted to be in the
air.
I held command positions of Platoon Leader and Commander within the Cavalry
while I flew with the Army National Guard. I was accepted to fly fixed wing aircraft
within the Air Force, so I transferred to the Air National Guard to continue my
career. I currently fly the KC135 in the Air National Guard, 185th Air Refueling
Wing. On my full-time status in the military, I currently work for the Iowa
Counterdrug Task Force as an Executive Officer.
I met Sonya at a party for a friend's wedding. Having been told she was a military
pilot I sought her out, told her of my art passion for women in aviation, asked her
to send me photos of her plane and herself. She did send photos and raved
about the college-painting I did.
I enlisted into Army National Guard, August, 1993; graduated from UNI, 1999 and
was commissioned as Second Lt in Army Aviation.
Graduated Army Aviation (helicopter) Basic, October 2000. Flew OH-58 Kiowa
helicopters until May 2005. Also trained in the AH-64 Apache helicopter July 2002,
but flew less than 100 hours.
I was the first female to fly the OH-58 and AH-64 Helicopters in the Iowa Army
National Guard and to command within the Cavalry as an aviator in the Iowa Army
National Guard. I donated a flight suit to the museum on Camp Dodge in
Johnston, Iowa. They have a "women in military aviation" section within their
museum.
I transferred to the Air Force in May 2005. Trained on T-6 Texan's and T-38
Talon's. Graduated from Air Force Pilot Training, November 2006. Graduated
from KC-135 (Boeing 707) training, January 2009.
I enlisted in the Army National Guard because I wanted to go through ROTC and
get my commission; then I could become an officer and fly helicopters. I can't tell
you exactly why I wanted to fly, but I think I always knew that I wanted to be in the
air.
I held command positions of Platoon Leader and Commander within the Cavalry
while I flew with the Army National Guard. I was accepted to fly fixed wing aircraft
within the Air Force, so I transferred to the Air National Guard to continue my
career. I currently fly the KC135 in the Air National Guard, 185th Air Refueling
Wing. On my full-time status in the military, I currently work for the Iowa
Counterdrug Task Force as an Executive Officer.
I met Sonya at a party for a friend's wedding. Having been told she was a military
pilot I sought her out, told her of my art passion for women in aviation, asked her
to send me photos of her plane and herself. She did send photos and raved
about the college-painting I did.
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