Amelie Beese of Germany is the first woman to patent an aircraft design.[1] Hélène Dutrieu is the first woman to pilot a seaplane.[1] April 16: Quimby is the first woman to fly across the English Channel.[9] August 15: Lilly Steinschneider becomes the first Hungarian woman to earn a pilot's license.[13] Hilda Hewlett is the first woman to co-found an aircraft factory