Merryl Tengesdal

Listen to the Episode

Show notes

Shatter The Sky is the Aviatrix Book Club discussion book for January 2022. In this interview with Col. Merryl Tengesdal, USAF (ret.), the first and only Black woman to fly the U2 reconnaissance plane and a contestant on the reality televisions series TOUGH AS NAILS, we talk about growing up in the Bronx, her start in aviation with the Navy, flying H60 helicopters at sea, challenges with supervisors, the difference in Navy and Air Force aviation cultures, the importance of mentoring and how to find mentors, flying the U2 and how to become a U2 pilot, parenting and how it affects career choices, the journey of fostering to adoption, participating in Tough as Nails, and the transition from the military to civilian life.