Lilian Bland: Ireland’s Trailblazing Aviator
Lilian Bland was a pioneering aviator whose remarkable achievements have long been overlooked. In early 1900s Ireland, at a time when women were rarely seen in engineering or science, she defied convention with daring independence and mechanical brilliance. On Carmoney Hill near Belfast, she designed, built, and flew her own biplane—the Mayfly—becoming the first woman in Ireland, and one of the first in the world, to construct and pilot a powered aircraft.
Fearless and unconventional, Bland was known to ride her bicycle astride (shocking many at the time), shoot guns, and enlist local men to help her test her flying machine by holding ropes as she perfected the glider version before adding an engine. Combining ingenuity with determination, she proved that innovation knows no gender.
Lilian Bland’s legacy stands as a testament to creativity, courage, and the relentless pursuit of progress—an extraordinary woman whose wings carried her far beyond the expectations of her era and whose story continues to inspire today.
Hidden in Plane Sight
Fine Bone China Dinner Plate
Designed in Ireland
Printed and Finished in Stoke On Trent
Diameter cm
Dishwasher safe, recommended- handwash with care.
