The Electric Aviatrix Podcast
The Electric Aviatrix” empowers women and young girls to see themselves in the future of flight. Hosted by aviator and filmmaker Susan Roe Musacchio, the podcast blends stories of electric aviation, eVTOLs, and pioneering women pilots—showing how innovation opens new doors in the sky. Tomorrow Takes Flight.
The Electric Aviatrix is a storytelling podcast that empowers women and young girls to see themselves in the future of flight. Hosted by aviator, filmmaker, and third-generation pilot Susan Roe Musacchio, the show blends history, innovation, and personal legacy to illuminate how electric aviation and eVTOL technology are reshaping the sky.
Susan’s aviation roots run deep. Born into a Detroit family shaped by industry, grit, and the early days of American flight, her story begins long before her own time in the cockpit. Her grandmother, Eddie Ferguson, flew in the heroic era of Michigan aviation alongside Henry Ford’s test pilot Harry Brooks. Her courage and determination—navigating the skies when women were rarely invited into them—became the spark that ignited Susan’s lifelong passion. This podcast honors that lineage, carrying forward the spirit of the women who flew before us.
Each episode offers clear, accessible insights into the world of electric aircraft, drones, Advanced Air Mobility, and sustainable aviation. Through storytelling rather than technical jargon, Susan opens the door for listeners of all ages—especially young girls—to understand where aviation is headed and why their voices matter in its evolution.
From Detroit’s legacy of innovation to Illinois’ emerging leadership in clean aviation, The Electric Aviatrix connects past and future. Listeners will hear stories of trailblazing women pilots, learn how electric aircraft work, explore the impact of new mobility systems on communities, and discover the opportunities waiting in tomorrow’s airspace.
This podcast is more than information—it’s an invitation. An invitation for women to lead, for girls to dream bigger, and for communities to imagine a cleaner, more accessible future in the sky.
The Electric Aviatrix. Tomorrow Takes Flight.
1st Aviation Film Festival in the World
Aviation Film Festival
Celebrating 100 Years of Courage, Innovation, and Flight, The Aviation Film Festival. Produced by Susan Roe Musacchio and Captain Beth Powell in partnership with the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce. May 1, 2027
The 1st Aviation Film Festival in the World
Aviation Film Festival
The Aviation Film Festival is more than a film festival—it is an experience that connects past, present, and future through the power of aviation storytelling. Inspired by the fearless legacy of Bessie Coleman, the festival invites audiences into a world where history takes flight and new voices rise.
Attendees step into a dynamic environment where films, conversations, and community come together. Screenings highlight bold aviation stories—from early pioneers to today’s innovators shaping electric and sustainable flight. Between films, audiences engage with filmmakers, pilots, and industry leaders, creating a rare opportunity to explore aviation from multiple perspectives.
The atmosphere is both inspiring and accessible. Whether you are an aviation enthusiast, a filmmaker, or simply curious, the festival offers a welcoming space to learn, connect, and imagine what comes next. Thoughtfully curated programs, audience awards, and meaningful discussions ensure every moment feels purposeful.
At its core, the festival is about possibility. It honors those who broke barriers while empowering the next generation—especially women and underrepresented voices—to see themselves in aviation’s future. It is not just about watching films; it is about becoming part of the story.
Our Vision
Founder: Susan Roe Musacchio: The vision of the Aviation Film Festival is to become a leading global platform where aviation storytelling inspires innovation, inclusion, and environmental progress. Grounded in the legacy of Bessie Coleman, the festival champions diverse voices and bold ideas shaping the future of flight. It seeks to connect filmmakers, industry leaders, and communities to spark curiosity, expand opportunity, and accelerate sustainable aviation. By bridging history with emerging technologies, the festival aims to ignite a new generation of leaders who will redefine aviation and ensure its impact is accessible, equitable, and forward-looking.
Coming: 3rd Age of Aviation Chicago
A film premiere and leadership forum on building Chicago’s electric aviation future
The Third Age of Aviation: Chicago convenes industry, energy, and civic leaders to shape what comes next. Building Chicago’s Electric Aviation Economy, this summit pairs a cinematic film premiere with a high-level forum to accelerate real progress—investment, infrastructure, and innovation. Focused on green, sustainable jobs and workforce development, it explores how electric aviation can create new career pathways while advancing climate goals. From vertiports to training pipelines, the event highlights actionable steps to position Chicago as a leader in this emerging sector. Grounded in legacy and driven by possibility, this is a launch moment for a city ready to rise into aviation’s next era.
Retracing the 1929 Women’s Air Derby
Derby Skies | Tomorrow takes Flight
DERBY SKIES
The 1929–2029 Centennial Journey
1929: They opened the sky.
2029: We follow their story.
In August 1929, twenty pioneering women aviators took off from Santa Monica, California, bound for Cleveland, Ohio, in the first Women’s Air Derby. Among them were Amelia Earhart, Louise Thaden, Pancho Barnes and other women who helped change the perception of what women could accomplish in aviation.
One hundred years later, Derby Skies will follow their path.
The documentary will retrace selected portions of the historic route, returning to places connected to the original race and discovering the stories of the women who flew it.
Along the way, the film will meet today’s women in aviation—from experienced pilots to women just beginning their flying journeys—and explore how the opportunities they have today grew from the determination of the women of 1929. Rather than recreating the race, Derby Skies: The Centennial Journey will use the historic route as a thread connecting past and present. Archival photographs, original accounts, historic locations and contemporary flight will come together to tell a story spanning 100 years. The journey begins in Santa Monica and ends in Cleveland, just as it did in 1929.
But the larger story is about where women in aviation go next.
Santa Monica → Cleveland
1929 → 2029
100 Years of Women in Flight
An Aviatrix Company film.
