The annual GALA (Girls Achieving Leadership in Aviation) event is returning to Tampa’s Peter O. Knight Airport on Friday, March 13, 2026, continuing its mission to inspire and support the next generation of women in aviation. Proceeds from the evening help fund scholarships for girls pursuing careers as pilots, aerospace engineers or in aviation management.

Now in its fourth year, the celebration attracts aviation enthusiasts from across the Tampa Bay area who share a commitment to expanding opportunities for women in an industry long dominated by men.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Julie Clark, one of America’s pioneering female airline pilots. Clark began her commercial career in 1976 as a First Officer with Golden West Airlines, breaking barriers at a time when few women were given the chance to fly professionally. She later became one of the first female pilots for a major U.S. airline and retired as an Airbus A320 Captain with Northwest Airlines in 2003. Beyond her airline career, Clark earned international acclaim as an airshow performer in her iconic Beechcraft T-34, a legacy that led to her induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

The evening will also introduce the 2026 GALA Scholarship recipients, with the program emceed by Fox 13 anchor Linda Hurtado and her daughter, First Officer Jackie Figueredo, a former Tony Jannus Scholars Award winner who recently began flying for a regional airline based in Atlanta.
 

The first GALA celebration was held in 2022 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the groundbreaking all-women airshow at Peter O. Knight Airport in 1947. Among the pilots who flew that day was Betty Skelton, famously known as the “First Lady of Firsts.” A Florida native, Skelton earned her nickname through a series of trailblazing achievements, becoming the first female aerobatic champion, driving a jet-powered car to 300 mph, and undergoing the same training and physical testing as NASA’s Mercury 7 astronauts, earning her the title “No. 7½.” Skelton set 17 aviation and automotive records, paving the way for women in aviation, sports, and business. The GALA scholarships are named in her honor.

The 2026 GALA celebration will take place under the stars from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the airport ramp, offering stunning views of the downtown Tampa skyline. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at www.galatampabay.com.