Open Skies cover art

Open Skies

My Life as Afghanistan’s First Female Pilot

Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Open Skies

By: Niloofar Rahmani
Narrated by: Suehyla El-Attar
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $19.99

Buy Now for $19.99

About this listen

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
Military & War Women Military Air Force Aviation War
All stars
Most relevant
So much history.
Certainly traumatic, for her and her family.
Culture and religion does not change with a government.
The US in Afghanistan for the last 20 years, was the result of 2011, when the towers fell.
The Taliban's return, after the departure of the US, will not improve Afghanistan.

Topical and a must read...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Brilliant. Highly recommend. Really moving story of life in Kabul and the hardships women face

Open skies

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.