Meet Ellie Carter, Britain’s youngest-ever female pilot

Meet Ellie Carter, Britain’s youngest-ever female pilot, whose ambitions are sky high.

At the age of 17, Ellie earned her pilot's license, setting a remarkable precedent. Now a student at the University of Southampton, she's not content to rest on her laurels. Ellie has her sights set on rewriting history once again – this time by becoming the first woman to pilot a century-old biplane used in WWI, a replica Sopwith Strutter. She will be the first women to ever fly the aircraft.

What inspired you to pursue aviation as a career path?

Initially, it was a passion for science and space which developed into a love for the U2 aircraft. I was fascinated with the physics of flying at such altitudes and the tint operating envelopes between stall and over-speed. I was also captivated by the science behind the human factors and the physical challenges faced by the pilots.

Can you describe what it's like to be emerging in the aviation industry?

It is a fascinating time. The aviation world is changing rapidly and very differently from before. Where we once chased speed and performance, today's breakthroughs revolve around alternative solutions, materials and sustainability.

It is an exciting time for a girl, as diversity fuels alternative thinking. I am passionate about the physics, science and engineering behind aviation, along with the vintage engineering from previous eras.

Being a female still has its challenges, but I am no different to any other young person pursuing an aviation career.

You mentioned that you had built Airfix Models in the past. Do you have a particular memory around this?

Yes, I built three U2 aircraft and one used to hang from my ceiling amongst some luminous stars. The crews of the U2 often drew nose art on the aircraft in chalk, something I replicated on the models I built!

The CIA thought you were a spy, can you tell us what happened?

Yes. I wrote a letter to RIAT and the USAF asking all about the U2 and if they could bring one to an airshow so I could have a closer look. My parents had various phone calls about it, checking up on us before they tried to track me down. They didn't bring one to an airshow but invited me to RAF Fairford to meet them and see one up close. They took me under their wing and were truly amazing. They supported and inspired me, arranged my first flight, and ultimately changed my life. I owe them so much.

As the UK's youngest female pilot what unique challenges or barriers have you come across?

The first challenge is cost. I don't come from a flying family or one with an aviation background, although most assume I do. That made access to aircraft and flying very difficult and very expensive. I used to work hard collecting and selling fossils, cleaning things and then later on tutoring children, often older than me, for their GCSEs.

I made it in small steps. I would reach a stage, take stock, and then try to reach the next step. Soon, I began to ride a wave as people helped me. I appeared on The One Show, and a very kind man helped me to the next stage after seeing me, which was great as I was never too lucky with scholarships, although the LAA were terrific and supported me with one. I met a fantastic guy who noticed my passion, allowed me to fly his aeroplane, and taught me some fantastic flying skills. If you want it bad enough, you find a way to get there, and if your passion is obvious, some wonderful people out there support you. That is why I am always keen to pay it forward, help other young people, and take many for their first flights.

The other challenges of being a young girl are the assumptions. I landed my aeroplane at one airfield, a WW2 Grasshopper cub, went for coffee and wasn't allowed airside to get back to it as they didn't believe I was seventeen and didn't believe I flew it in. It is quite funny now, but I needed to get home, so it was frustrating then. I remember them asking them to get my dad and saying, "I can't. He's 200 miles away."

 If I take my dad somewhere, people will assume he is the pilot and talk to him while ignoring me. I often get guys saying. "Has Dad taken you for a flight?"  It is funny in a way but also quite annoying that you get dismissed instantly.

How then, in a traditionally male-dominated industry, do you approach building relationships and earning respect among your peers and colleagues?

That is a tough question. Respect is sometimes inherited from family members. I don't have that as a new pilot from a non-flying background, so it is about earning it all from scratch rather than just the personal side of it. Those who know me soon respect me, but again, it's assumptions from those who don't. I often hear things like, "You can fly it, but I bet you still rely on a man to fix it." I often hear it despite doing most of the work on my aircraft myself and working for a vintage aircraft company in my spare time.

What brings you the most joy when flying?

It is nice to get away from everything and see the world's beauty from above—Amelia Earhart's famous words. "You haven't seen a tree until youv'e seen it's shadow from the sky," epitomises it. But also, I am lucky to fly a WW2 D-Day aircraft, and it is so humbling sitting in a seat in which men went to war. I often fly and reflect, wondering whatever became of them all. I hope they returned home and had families and weren't the ones that died so young. It's very humbling. However, I bet when they were flying the aircraft, they never imagined it would survive to be 80 years old and become the beloved chariot for a young girl and her handbag.

Who are some of your aviation heroes?

Pancho Barnes, I love reading about her. Katherine Stinson is worthy of far more recognition than she gets. I once read about a young girl who flew a Beaufighter to a front-line squadron on one engine. The Beaufighter was a challenging beast to fly and I remember reading about the guy thinking wow, that's a great pilot before realising it was an ATA girl. She is my unidentified hero.

And who would you love to meet one day?

I am lucky to have met some fantastic people. As for who I would like to meet, there are far too many to mention.

I would love to meet Peter Jackson. He has such a passion for film production and aviation. He has a fantastic collection of WW1 aircraft, including many airworthy examples. What he has built commemorating WW1 aviation is incredible. Regarding his films, They Shall Grow Old is a wonderful film, but he did one called Lovely Bones, which I loved. The direction is perfectly on point, and I have not seen many films so beautifully complimented by the cinematography. I admire him hugely.

Liz Bonnin: She is a very talented presenter. Her work often embraces subjects that fascinate me, and I love watching her. Guy Martin too. He makes the types of programs I relate to and the types of television production I would love to be lucky enough to be involved with myself one day.

What's the one aircraft you dream of flying?

I couldn't choose only one. It would have to be from different Eras. From the jet age, it would be the U2 for obvious reasons. From the WW2 era the Beaufighter. I have a fascination with it that grew from where I grew up and from reading about it—one of the undervalued workhorses of the war.

As from the WW1 era, almost anything from the DR1 to the Nieuport and the Strutters and Pups. They were all amazing pioneering machines and I would love to fly them all.

You are set to be the first women to fly the WWI Sopwith Strutter, how did you hear about the project?

I have watched the project on X/Twitter for a while and have had regular exchanges with the guys. The era resonates with me because, as a ten-year-old who believed flying would be impossible, my dad wrote me a young adult novel about three amazing girls in the WW1 era who also wanted to fly. I loved it so much. He wrote me another, and as I grew older, the characters evolved to and grew with me. It was a fantastic thing, and I never felt alone again because I had three incredible paper sisters to inspire me. One of the characters was based on me. She was amazing.

Do you ever feel nervous flying?

No, not really. New aircraft types and flying machines that belong to others keep you alert and cautious, but nervous isn't the right word.

What are you studying and what are your plans after graduating?

Aeronauts and astronautics.

I am still open-minded regarding my future. I would love that career to be flying-based, but I also love vintage aircraft and working on them, so I enjoy that area. Accident investigation is also quite intriguing.

Away from aviation, I would love to be involved in TV work/presenting, especially productions involving science and engineering, as I love promoting that to other young people. I also love working in film, and from my Jujitsu/boxing background, I would love to get involved in stuntwork and more TV/Film projects, so I am very open-minded and hoping the right offer lands in my inbox while I focus on my final exams.

How do you balance Uni and flying?

It isn't easy. My course is quite intense, and balancing things can be challenging. Ultimately, I shut one down and focus on the other when intensity demands it, but on the whole, I manage it with discipline.

Walk us through a typical day in your life.

It depends on the time of year: Currently, I am up early. I usually eat a healthy breakfast: yoghurt, fruit, and nuts. I work, attend lectures and study hard. I am in the gym about 16:30-1700 and then spend the evenings revising, more study and answering emails for various projects I am working on.

When not at Uni, I would be following one of my passions. The flying is well documented, but when I am not flying, I often work on vintage aircraft, go fossil hunting, explore Cornish Tin mines, paint and do artwork, and then go for a beautiful flight into the evening.

What's your most memorable experience flying so far?

That's another tricky question. I had an engine failure once on a relatively new aircraft and had to make an emergency landing in some long grass. Luckily, it worked out very well, and nothing was damaged. I got a lot of praise for the way I dealt with it.

Also, my first flight to Lundy Island, it's a challenging place to land, and the scenery is beautiful—my flights to France and the Normandy beaches are also a stand-out.

What's one thing you would change about your flying journey.

I wouldn't change anything as such. You make a pathway, have your dreams and try to follow them. If you wish you had done things differently, it distracts you from going forward. You are where you are because of the past. It is part of you, even if you wish some things were different. As the Maori people say: 'I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past.'

As a role model for aspiring female pilots, what message would you like to convey to women who dream of pursuing a career in aviation?

Just go for it and never give up. As I said previously, there are challenges to face, but they make you stronger and give you more confidence. You have to take the negative and remould it into a positive.

There are many different aviation careers, from engineering and flying to design and technology. The most important message, I think, is that some will go out of their way to put you down, even through benevolent sexism, but they are a minority, and many others will support you, both male and female. It's a case of ignoring those attitudes and focusing on yourself. It's a great place to be with some great people.

With her determination and passion for aviation, Ellie continues to inspire and break barriers, proving that the sky's the limit for those who dare to dream.