Open Skies

My Life as Afghanistan’s First Female Pilot

By: Niloofar Rahmani

Narrated by: Suehyla El-Attar

The true story of Niloofar Rahmani and her determination to become Afghanistan’s first female air force pilot.

In 2010, for the first time since the Soviets, Afghanistan allowed women to join the armed forces, and Niloofar entered Afghanistan’s military academy. Niloofar had to break through social barriers to demonstrate confidence, leadership, and decisiveness - essential qualities for a combat pilot. Niloofar performed the first solo flight of her class - ahead of all her male classmates - and in 2013 became Afghanistan’s first female fixed-wing air force pilot.

The US State Department honored Niloofar with the International Women of Courage Award and brought her to the United States to meet Michelle Obama and fly with the US Navy’s Blue Angels. But when she returned to Kabul, the danger to her and her family had increased significantly.

Rahmani and her family are portraits of the resiliency of refugees and the accomplishments they can reach when afforded with opportunities.

©2021 by Niloofar Rahmani and Adam Sikes (P)2021 by Blackstone Publishing

Boilerguy Recommended Reading

As a father, whose daughter has experienced trauma, prejudice, harassment, and more, this book is inspiring, and a reminder for good men to engage and be part of the solution across the globe.

Very interesting and intriguing!

Learned a lot about Afghan’s and their challenges. Would highly recommend reading this. Wish the author the best for her and her family.

What an Inspiration

Niloofar and her parents are truly inspiring … on the scale of Nelson Mandela. Truly a wonderful read.

Must Read

Reading this story is a reminder of how fortunate we are to live in a free and equal society. I gained more insight into life in Afghanistan and the fears and reality of families that step “out of line” of Taliban rule. What a courageous young woman and a truly amazing father who encouraged and allowed all of his children to chose their own paths in life. I highly recommend this book.

Timely and Compelling

Having lived as a kid in Riyadh for a short period in the mid-80s with my family while my dad was stationed at USMTM in a training billet, Miss Rahmani's story's timeline hit close to home. Her hardships alone in pursuing her childhood dream of flying is amazing as a standalone story but the culture that also demonized and attacked her family are part of the greater message that change in the region will take generations of sacrifices by women such as Rahmani and those women's families.

Inspiring and heroic

A friend suggested this book and it does not disappoint me. The narrator is perfect. It is very well written. The depth of the story brings you across the miles as a young woman is running through her home as a child in joy, you feel her fears at her loss of a friend and share her nightmares after. The movie of her life still plays through my mind, I can never imagine, truly living in the world that she had, and being able to accomplish so much. Her parents could not have been better parents. Kept my interest throughout. I pray that the future of Afghanistan will one day again, give the opportunities that she had. I hearing stories of the lack of respect of women in Afghanistan. Upon the return of my husband from deployment, hearing his stories, I am probably aware more than most of the difficulties women have faced for many years in the Country ruled by the Taliban. Our country, the USA, should be ashamed at the abandonment of people of this Country and allowing Afghani women to be persecuted once again. We may never know what positive and amazing contributions one Afghan woman would’ve had to the world.

What a great story!

Very interesting and truly inspiring story. I usually toggle between several books and podcasts, but this one was all I listened to from start to finish. It really gives color to the conflict in Afghanistan and why, and makes me take for granted freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Great listen for anyone.

Against the odds

The authors story took incredible strength to follow through to the end. I am truly happy for her and welcome you and your family as fellow Americans.