Dorothy Cochrane

Dorothy Cochrane is a curator in the Aeronautics Department of the National Air and Space Museum and is responsible for the collections of general aviation aircraft, aerial photography, and the history of women in aviation. She is the co-author of The Aviation Careers of Igor Sikorsky, and was a consultant for Women and Flight, Portraits of Contemporary Women Pilots, by Carolyn Russo.

Her exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum have included Aerial Firefighting, The Aviation Careers of Igor Sikorsky, Patty Wagstaff National Aerobatic Champion, Business Wings, and Aerobatic Champions which featured Betty Skelton's Pitts S-1C and Leo Loudenslager's Laser 200. Aircraft she has brought into the Museum's collection include Patty Wagstaff's Extra 260, Leo Loudenslager's Laser 200 and Bob Hoover's North American Rockwell Shrike Commander as well as the Travel Air D4D Pepsi Skywriter and a Beech King Air.

She is responsible for the General Aviation and Business Aviation exhibit stations and aerobatic, private, and business aircraft at the new Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. In 1996, Cochrane organized the Museum's General Aviation Symposium which brought together leaders of the community for discussions on the future of general aviation. She is also the Aeronautics Division consultant for the Museum's General Electric Aviation Lecture Series. Cochrane is also a private pilot who enjoys flying a Citabria.