Doris F. Grove
1988
about
(~1933- ) World/National Records; Gliderport Owner/operator; Author
Awards
Majewska Medal 2008; Eaton Trophy (w/ T. Knauff) 2000; Exceptional Achievement Award 1981; Certificate of Appreciation (w/ T. Knauff) 2004; Silver #3197 1976; Gold #1143 1978; Diamond #388 (Int #2417) 1978; 1000K Diploma #12 (Int #24, 1st Woman)1980
Bio
Doris Grove wanted to fly and tried to do so as soon as her six children were in school. However, the first two instructors she contacted refused to teach women. She persevered and in 1972 discovered a soaring club where her goals could be achieved. Soon she had her private certificate for airplane SEL and her commercial certificate for glider and flight instructor.
In 1975 she helped establish a new gliderport in central Pennsylvania that soon enabled many pilots to set national and world records - including Doris. Additionally, in 1980 she became the first woman (the 24th person) in the world to fly the 1,000 km flight. She had accumulated 8,000 flying hours as of 2008.
Doris is a successful business woman involved in operating the Ridge Soaring Gliderport and the Knauff & Grove Soaring supplies national catalog. She is the author of several books, some with co-author Tom Knauff.
She is very active in the soaring and aviation communities speaking to soaring clubs and at SSA National Conventions. She is in demand by women who desire to learn from someone like Doris who has compassion, empathy, skill and knowledge. This interest has caused her to be associated with the Ninety-Nines and the Women's Soaring Pilots Association (WSPA) (both women's groups with international membership). She has organized and conducted several annual meetings for the WSPA..
Doris has many well deserved awards - the Eaton Trophy (SSA's highest award) with Tom Knauff in 2000, the Exceptional Achievement Award in 1981 and the Certificate of Appreciation (with Tom Knauff) in 2004. In 2008 she was awarded the prestigious FAI Pelagia Majewska Medal.
She holds Silver #3197 (1976), Gold #1143 (1978), Diamond #388 (Intl #2417, 1978), 1000 K Diploma #12 (Intl #24; first woman 1980), Symons One Lennie #754 (1976).
Doris Grove is the embodiment of a member of the Soaring Hall of Fame who has made great achievements in flight as well as great contributions in service to the sport of soaring she loves.
Her World records (ratified but since superseded) are as follows:
9-28-1981 Sub-Class D1 Out and Return - Female 1,127.68 km (700.9 mi)
9-28-1981 Sub Class D0 Out and Return - Female 1,127.68 km (700.9 mi)
3-11-1980 Sub-Class D1 Out and Return - Female 1,000.86 km (622 mi)
4-7-1979 Sub-Class D1 Out and Return - Female 731.27 km (454.4 mi)
Her publications include the following:
Accident Prevention Manual for Glider Pilots (co-author) (1992)
Soaring Pilot Magazine (co-editor, 1994)
Federal Aviation Regulations for Glider Pilots (1998)
Accident Prevention Manual for Glider Flight Instructors (co-author, 2nd edition 1993)
Accident Prevention Manual for Glider Pilots (co-author, 1992)
Judgment Training Manual for Glider Pilots (1985)
Glider Basics from Solo to License (with several, 1984)
(Adapted from the FAI Pelagia Majewska citation.)