This month, we’re spotlighting a brand-new community in the flight sim world: Skies and Dolls, a group created to connect, support, and inspire women in flight simulation. Whether you’re an experienced simmer or just starting out, Skies and Dolls is a space to learn, share, and build lasting friendships with other women in the virtual skies.
The group was founded by YouTuber AvAngel, Twitch Streamer Alyson Johnson, and Sr. Community Manager of MSFS Jayne Ivana, with a growing team of passionate contributors like The Flying Freja, who now leads many of the group’s events and also launched the Skies and Dolls Virtual Airline. On the topic of its formation:
“Being a part of the flight sim community the past five years has been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life,” said Jayne. “But I couldn’t help but look around and wonder if there was a space just for women to gather as aviation enthusiasts, given that they are a minority in the community. I realized I could be a part of the solution. That’s when the three of us got together and did something about it.”
For Alyson Johnson, the need for this group was clear.
“As in the history of aviation before it, flight sim hasn’t always been so welcoming to women. So I always felt there was a place to make women feel welcome and able to speak/post freely.”
Alyson’s streams often feature in-depth recreations of historic female aviator flights, helping to share the legacy of women like Amelia Earhart, Sheila Scott, and Jennifer Murray with modern audiences. When it comes to Skies and Dolls, she sees it as more than just a Discord server, she sees it as a movement.
“The biggest thing is to show that aviation and flight sim appeals to all, not just to guys or just gals. I’ve had colleagues at work whose daughters watch my streams and want to learn to fly. It’s amazing.”
“What I’d really like is to be the online digital community akin to the 99s. Other charities include supporting preservation of aviation history. Another organisation could include Women in Tech — could be an opportunity to show that tech expands to aviation.”
Her fellow founder, AvAngel, echoed the importance of visibility and representation.
“It’s important because we need to show girls and women that it’s ok to like aviation, real or virtual. A lot of childhood is ‘that’s for boys.’ Well… it’s not. It’s for everyone.”
YouTuber AvAngel, a longtime flight simmer with roots going back to FS98, is known for her honest, in-depth aircraft reviews and helpful tutorials. Her videos have helped thousands of pilots navigate the world of third-party add-ons, and her passion for general aviation and bush flying shows in every release. She’s also contributed to development projects as a texture artist and reviewer over the years.
Though the founders expected starting the group to be a challenge, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I actually thought it would be a challenge as there are only a few female flight simmers or content creators,” said Alyson. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised how many have joined in and are making experiences with each other. Fly-ins, competitions, and more.”
“The desire for the space has certainly exceeded my expectations,” said AvAngel. “We’re a welcoming, open space where diversity is our strength. It has surprised me how grateful members have been to have somewhere safe and for them.”
The group’s values were immediately clear to The Flying Freja, one of the first members and a lead event organizer.
“As soon as I saw that it was a space for all women and was also LGBTQIA+ friendly, I couldn’t wait to join. I smashed that ‘Join Server’ button so fast.”
“It’s a safe haven from the toxic sides of the community. As always, a few loud ones ruin it for the rest. It must be said they are NOT the majority. But having a space where you know that none of that will be present or tolerated is a real weight off the social battery.”
As someone who organizes regular group flights, Freja is focused on making sure events are accessible to everyone.
“My goal as an event organiser is to make fun events that are as inclusive as possible. So my considerations are: are you on PC or Xbox? Using a default aircraft or a third-party aircraft? On MSFS2020 or 2024? A pro or a new player? Have a custom rig or a game controller? I want there to be something for everyone and for it to be accessible to everyone no matter their skill level, system, setup, or budget.”
Freja also brings a deep modding background to the group, contributing to projects like the Horten Ho229 with Rara-Avis-Sims and testing for multiple studios. Her goal for Skies and Dolls matches the founders’ vision: reach everyone who needs it.
“Honestly, my not-so-secret dream would be to spread Skies and Dolls as far and as wide as possible. All cis and LGBTQIA+ women should have the opportunity to enjoy the flight sim world in a safe and supportive environment that allows them access to the full gamut of flying. I’m talking solo flights, learning, group flights, virtual airline, milsim, relaxed flying, sightseeing, VATSIM, bush flying, airliners, general aviation, helicopters, aircraft carriers. You name it, I want to see Skies and Dolls all over it.”
Jayne shares that she also sees the potential for the group to grow beyond the sim into broader advocacy.
“I’d love to see us connect with organizations that focus on providing education and advocacy for women in aviation and STEM. My dream is to directly support scholarships for young women who want a career in aviation.”
Launch Event
Skies and Dolls will officially launch on July 24, Amelia Earhart Day, with a celebratory fly-in honoring the 1929 Women’s Air Derby. This event will be multi-streamed live on twitch.tv/msfsofficial, twitch.tv/alyson_johnson, and youtube.com/@avangel.
Joining the broadcast will be Marion Blake, a real-world pilot and professional Amelia Earhart reenactor. You can follow her on Instagram at @the_pinup_pilot.
With giveaways, group flying, and a special guest, this launch marks the group’s first official hello to the broader sim community, and a warm welcome to any women looking for a place in the skies.
“So far it has all exceeded my expectations,” said Alyson. “That we continue to grow and expand and make people happy, whether it be by a safe place to natter, to learn more about aviation, simming, livery creation, or just being a shoulder to listen if someone needs it.”
Skies and Dolls is open to all women, including LGBTQIA+ members, and welcomes simmers of all skill levels, backgrounds, and hardware setups. If you identify as a woman in the flight sim space, we welcome you to join our community on Discord!
You can follow the founders and members here:
- Alyson Johnson on Twitch: twitch.tv/alyson_johnson
- AvAngel on YouTube: youtube.com/@avangel
- The Flying Freja on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theflyingfreja
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/RZd62KU8EP
And follow Skies and Dolls on Instagram: instagram.com/skiesanddolls