
In this interview, Liz talks with Air Force Academy graduate and pilot Patty Bear about her memoir, FROM PLAIN TO PLANE: MY MENNONITE CHILDHOOD, A NATIONAL SCANDAL, AND AN UNCONVENTIONAL SOAR TO FREEDOM. The book chronicles Patty’s journey from her childhood in an old-order Pennsylvania Mennonite community through a highly publicized scandal involving her father’s excommunication from the church, and her path to the Air Force Academy in the first wave of women to be accepted.
You can find Patty at her author page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorPattyBear
And at her website: www.theflyingclub.com
For a more in-depth interview with Patty, listen to the Onward Podcast episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/from-plain-to-plane-journey-from-mennonite-childhood/id1465324726?i=1000504259717
Liz Booker is a retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot and writer for young adults. She hosts the Aviatrix Book Club and the Aviatrix Book Review Website and Podcast. This episode is a rebroadcast of the Aviatrix Book Review in collaboration with
Coming Home Well. You can find Liz @LiteraryAviatrix on social media.
Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com
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Military Aviatrix
Military Aviatrix is a bold and uplifting podcast celebrating the extraordinary women of military aviation, past, present, and future. Hosted by Liz Booker, in collaboration with Literary Aviatrix, this series takes flight through powerful stories that illuminate the courage, resilience, and determination it takes to soar in a male-dominated field.
Each episode features inspiring conversations with women who have faced down adversity in pursuit of their wings; sharing lessons learned in the cockpit, on the battlefield, and beyond. You’ll hear from trailblazing aviators, rising stars, and the historians who help us honor the legacy of those who paved the way.
More than just a collection of stories, Military Aviatrix is a mission to open minds and ignite dreams. Whether you’re a young woman dreaming of flight, a seasoned pilot, or someone who believes in the power of representation and perseverance, this podcast offers fuel for your journey.
Plug in. Take off. And be inspired to rise.
Because every woman who flies writes a new chapter in history.
Meet the Host

Liz Booker transitioned to full-time writer in 2019 after a 28-year career as a Coast Guard helicopter pilot and foreign diplomat. She holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She continues to fly, pursuing an extensive aviation bucket-list—a.k.a. ‘research’.