Raymonde de Laroche (August 22, 1882 – July 18, 1919) was the first woman in the world to receive a pilot's license and a pioneering figure in early aviation. A French aviator, she broke gender barriers by demonstrating exceptional skill in ballooning and fixed-wing flight during the formative years of powered flight. Her daring public demonstrations and competitive successes earned her widespread acclaim, and she later served as a flight instructor during World War I. Tragically, she died in a crash in 1919 at the age of 36. Her legacy endures as a symbol of female empowerment in aviation and technology.
