Description
Book Synopsis“As a young Afghan woman who dreamed of becoming an air force pilot, Niloofar Rahmani confronted far more than technical challenges; she faced the opprobrium of an entire society.” —Pamela Constable, author of Playing with Fire and former Kabul and Islamabad bureau chief for the Washington Post
The true story of Niloofar Rahmani and her determination to become Afghanistan’s first female air force pilot—as seen on Anderson Cooper and ABC News
In 2010, for the first time since the Soviets, Afghanistan allowed women to join the armed forces, and Niloofar entered Afghanistan’s military academy.
Niloofar had to break through social barriers to demonstrate confidence, leadership, and decisiveness—essential qualities for a pilot. Niloofar performed the first solo flight of her class—ahead of all her male classmates—and in 2013 became Afghanistan’s first female fixed-wing air force pilot.
The US State Department honored Niloofar with the International Women of Courage Award and brought her to the United States to meet Michelle Obama and fly with the US Navy’s Blue Angels. But when she returned to Kabul, the danger to her and her family had increased significantly.
Rahmani and her family are portraits of the resiliency of refugees and the accomplishments they can reach when afforded with opportunities
Table of ContentsPreface
1: My Father
2: The Soviets
3: Courtship
4: Civil War
5: Escape
6: The Refugee Camp
7: Karachi
8: Our Return
9: Life Under the Taliban
10: September 11, 2001
11: Invasion and Freedom
12: School
13: Not Everything Changes
14: Dreams Form
15: University
16: A Commercial
17: Recruitment
18: Basic Training
19: Friends, Reflection, and Graduation
20: Joining the Air Force
21: Medical Test and More Tests
22: English Is a Requirement
23: Move West
24: Flight Training
25: First Flight
26: Things Change
27: Up Where I Belong
28: Outed
29: Graduation
30: The Squadron
31: Flying Operations
32: The Threats Come
33: India and AWOL
34: Back in the Air
35: Contacts
36: The United States
37: My Return
38: Everything Crumbles
39: Escape
40: Back in Training
41: Asylum
42: What’s Next
Afterword
