Jennifer Murray is the first woman to fly a helicopter around the world. The Providence-born Murray was also the first person of either gender to pilot a piston engine helicopter around the world and the first to do it without an autopilot. Perhaps the most astounding aspect of her aerial exploits, however, is the fact that she did not take up flying until 1994 when she was 54 years old. Her husband bought a half share in a helicopter; according to Jennifer, he said “I haven’t got time to learn to fly it, so you’d better.” Murray, who now flies a Bell 407 helicopter, counts Bell Helicopter-Textron as one of her major industry sponsors.

Bell, a wholly owned subsidiary of Providence-based Textron, Incorporated is also the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s induction ceremony. “As a fellow native New Englander and on behalf of all the men and women at Bell Helicopter, I offer my sincere congratulations to Ms. Murray for her tremendous accomplishments in aviation,” said Mr. Mike Blake, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Bell Helicopter’s Commercial Business Unit. “Her induction into the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame is an honor that has been hard earned and well deserved. Additionally, Ms. Murray has gone a long way in illustrating the capability and versatility of vertical lift technology. We are proud to have her flying a Bell Helicopter.”