One of the interesting facts artist Rich Hoffmann came across while doing research for his 1999 entry into the Icarus International Visual Arts “Women in Aviation” Exhibition was that at one time more women had pilot licenses than had licenses to drive cars.

"That and the surprisingly high number of women who were aviation pioneers that you never hear about are what struck me most," said Hoffmann, remembering his investigation into the exhibition's 1999 theme. "That's why I chose to enter a powerful image of the female form. I couldn't help but be inspired by these early aviatrixes whose contributions to flying had been kept so quiet for so long."

Indeed, the resulting constructed work done for the annual event hosted by the Nags Head, NC-based organization that celebrates flight through the arts is powerful and more: commanding, yet graceful; solid, but light; fiery but nurturing.

A series of triangular components, "Soaring Mistress" is a synthesis of the human body and a flying machine.