Lotfia El Nadi On September 27, 1933, became the first Egyptian woman to receive a pilot’s license. She was amongst the youngest at the time, age 26, to achieve her dream. As Elnadi had no way to pay for the flying lessons, she worked as the telephone operator and the secretary for the flying school in exchange for her tuition. When Elnadi received her pilot’s license, she became the first African as well as Arab woman pilot in the world, after only 67 days of study. Her glorious achievement made headlines throughout the world. Elnadi not only flew in an international race between Cairo and Alexandria but also won and received the prize of 200 Egyptian pounds and congratulations from King Faud. Elnadi received salutations from Huda sha’arwvi, a feminist leader, who drive a fundraiser to buy Elnadi a plane of her own. Elnadi also worked as a secretary general of the Egyptian Aviation Club.