2025 Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinee
At sixteen, Sheila Farmer was learning to fly airplanes—a natural choice in a family where aviation was tradition. Her mother, Irene Farmer Napier, had trained as a pilot during World War II, and Sheila grew up believing that the sky held no barriers.
Sheila married William Harry Wagner, raising five daughters while nurturing her love of flight. By 1970, she earned her pilot’s license at Spirit of St. Louis Airport, sharing the skies with her husband and instilling in her children the belief that women could—and should—fly. Family adventures across Florida and the Bahamas were taken by air, not car, as the Wagners embraced flight as part of daily life.
In 1977, Sheila discovered air racing, entering the All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race, and a lifelong passion for competitive aviation was born. Her dedication culminated in 1997 when she teamed with Sophia Payton to compete in the Air Race Classic, a grueling 2,700-mile journey across thirteen states. Meticulous planning, strategic skill, and relentless practice carried them to victory, making Sheila Wagner the first Kentuckian to win the prestigious race.
Throughout her career, Sheila logged over 1,200 flight hours, earned her instrument rating, and flew a variety of aircraft for both competition and leisure. She was an active member of the Ninety-Nines, forging lifelong friendships among fellow women pilots and mentoring future generations.
Sheila balanced her competitive spirit with family life, raising her daughters to embrace opportunity without limitation. Her legacy lives on through her family, her students, and the countless women who have been inspired by her determination, skill, and courage. Sheila Wagner proved that with preparation, perseverance, and passion, the sky is indeed the limit.
