Anne Bridge Baddour’s love for aviation began early—she took her first flight at the age of eight in a Ford Trimotor. From that moment, she knew flying was her calling. Her formal aviation journey began at the John R. Powers Aerospace School in Boston, where she served as an instructor. Throughout her distinguished career, Anne held roles as a corporate pilot, manager and pilot for Baltimore Airways, and most notably, became the first woman experimental research pilot at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Flight Test Facility. In that role, she conducted airborne research for both the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Anne’s accomplishments in the field of aviation are extraordinary. She competed in 16 air races beginning in 1954 and set numerous world aviation records. Her commitment to aviation education and mentorship extended well beyond the cockpit. She was deeply involved with the Aero Club of New England, serving on its Board of Directors from 1977 to 2002, during which time she established several scholarships. She continued to serve as an advisor thereafter.

Anne’s passion for aviation and history also led her to serve on the Boards of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, Daniel Webster College, Boston University Library–Special Collections, Villa Viscaya, and the Miami Maritime Museum.

We are deeply grateful to the Baddour family for this generous contribution, which will help honor Anne’s remarkable legacy and inspire the next generation of women in aviation.