HAYDEN — Ariel Trulson, the outreach director for CDA Wings and committee chair for Girls in Aviation Day, was better known as "Boom Barbie" on Saturday.

The active-duty Air Force boom operator wore a hot-pink Barbie jumpsuit as she shared her experiences in aviation with the next generation of female flyers during Girls in Aviation Day at Coeur d’Alene Aviation.

A boom operator, she explained, refuels planes — in midair.

Trulson was one of many women in aviation and aerospace that girls were able to connect with at the event, including women with Air Traffic Control, Homeland Security, Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force, Coeur d’ Alene Aviation and Maintenance, and the Spokane International Airport, to name a few.

The goal of the day was to remind girls ages 9 to 17 that, like Barbie, they can “be anything.”

Women in Aviation chapter president Sarah Figueroa, in a similar spirit, was dressed as Weird Barbie, a popular character from the 2023 Barbie movie.

“This is meant to show young girls that there are so many opportunities out there for them,” Trulson said.

Though Girls in Aviation Day has been celebrated globally for 11 years, this was the Coeur d’Alene chapter of Women in Aviation’s second time hosting a local celebration. Girls in Aviation Day was officially recognized by Governor Brad Little in 2024, as well as North Idaho's Women in Aviation chapter, CDA Wings.

Several aircraft were also on display for attendees to see up close and go through a preflight experience with a pilot, including a FedEx cargo plane, a Pilatus, a Kodiak, a Supercub, and a FireBoss.

Raffle giveaways included a one-hour flight simulator from Northwest Flight Service, a 30-minute helicopter experience from Inland Helicopters, KC-135 merchandise, Girl Scout Cookies, S.T.E.M. literature, and, of course, Barbies representing women in leadership roles.

The event saw about double the attendance of last year’s, according to Trulson. Last year, around 30,000 girls took part in celebrations around the world.

This year, girls took part in 190 celebrations globally, including 133 events across the United States.

It is because of girls like Genevieve Morris with Girl Scouts Troop #2158 that the future of women in aviation is already taking flight.

She wants to be a pilot someday, she shared.

“I love being up in the air,” Morris said. “Experiencing everything in that way would be amazing.”  

** Note: This article was edited to include additional information about the event from Women in Aviation.

    Genevieve Morris gets a firsthand look at the controls inside a helicopter as Captain Creighkett Gilpin shares her insight into careers in aviation during Girls in Aviation Day at Coeur d'Alene Aviation on Saturday.