A reporter asked Elder if it was worth risking her life, and she replied that it was. Do you agree?

Elder said, "I want to do something that will make people notice me, that may give me an opportunity to get somewhere in the word." A reporter asked her if it was worth risking her life, and she replied that it was. Do you agree?

It wouldn't be for me, but it is not for us to agree or disagree with these pilots decisions. Obviously, many of them paid that price, both men and women. When you love something beyond yourself there is no stopping you

One doesn't know until one tries! Plus when you have a passion for something, don't let anything stand in your way. I became hooked on flying as a young married woman. I could not wait to get into the plane when my then husband said, "Let's go." He was the pilot and I the co-pilot because I had not finished flight school, but it did not stop me from wanting to be the pilot. I didn't really think of it from the prospective of risking my life, only that I loved it!

The word "passion" was exactly what I was going to reference in my response to the question, and I see that the reader before me used it as well. Whether one is volunteering in war zones as medical personnel in programs such as Doctors Without Borders, volunteering to help wildlife in remote locations, or any other 'save' situations, the passion and belief in one's cause makes it totally worthwhile. These passions can be life changing - for the better.

I agree with the others. One thing about life is doing what you loved. Not everyone can do that. Sometimes the risks are worth it. Sometimes regrets is what tears a person soul. One has to follow their own path.

As a person who could never take the risks these women took I very much respect their bravery and passion to fly these planes. These women all loved to fly and so for them it was worth the risks.

The passion to be first in anything can be quite strong. Personally, I'd rather break records if I knew it was something that I was accomplished in and qualified to do.

For her it was. When someone really wants to succeed to change the course of events, I think risking one's life is common.

I think most people who risk their lives for believe they are taking a calculated risk, that is, they have analyzed the risk versus reward and decided that it is worth it. For Elder, it was worth the risk; for others, it was not. Extreme sports today are a good example of people taking risks that the majority of us would not. It was interesting to me to see how the calculus was changed for Louise Thaden after her first child was born.

Well it was for her and that is great. It is wonderful to be that passionate about something. I am not a risk taker.

It was to all of the fly girls.

Where would we be today if people didn't’ risk their lives in new endeavors? We wouldn't’ be flying or exploring outer space, have discovered new countries, etc. And I think most of the aviators didn’t expect to die, even though it was a possibility.

Again, I can't agree more with all the comments here. I tried to imagine myself taking the same risks. I know I wouldn't because I'm crazy afraid of heights. But, again, if people weren't willing to take risks, how would we learn and build. I think risks also depend on those that are effected by them, like the families or the children that are left behind.