If you’ve never heard of Lexi Hargis, get ready to meet a woman who’s flying far beyond the cockpit. Former U.S. Army Black Hawk pilot, founder of Hover with Hargis, and now children’s book author of The Princess Pilots: Across the Globe, Lexi is redefining what it means to lead with passion, purpose, and a whole lot of heart.
Let’s rewind. Lexi commissioned into the Army in 2015, where she immediately headed to Fort Rucker for flight school. “Our entire class got Black Hawks,” she recalled, calling it a “huge blessing.” She was the only woman in her class—something she had to get used to fast.
When she got to her first unit in Texas, she was the only female pilot in her company. Then came a small deployment to Latvia, where the challenges of being the only woman in the room started to stack up.
After transitioning out of the Army, Lexi wasn’t ready to give up flying. She pursued a Marine Corps contract and even started Officer Candidate School all over again—until a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus brought everything to a halt.
“It felt like God was giving me a sign that you can’t heal in an environment that makes you sick,” she said.
Flying remained her greatest joy. But instead of solely flying for the military, Lexi began flying helicopters for fire suppression, and chose a new mission: to create opportunities for women in aviation. In 2021, she launched her nonprofit Hover with Hargis, which offers scholarships specifically for women who want to fly rotary-wing aircraft—a niche community that makes up less than 1% of rotary-wing pilots.
She started with just $6,000 and gave out her first scholarship in 2022.
“Once that first scholarship was given, it really took off,” Lexi said. From selling T-shirts to helping organize galas, Hover with Hargis has since awarded 12 scholarships and counting.
Every dollar raised—from merch sales to book royalties—goes right back into the mission.
But Lexi didn’t stop there.
After designing a few whimsical pilot characters for her shirts, someone asked, “Why don’t you have designs for little girls?” Overnight, her social media lit up. “I had 50 new followers and so many messages,” she said. The outpouring of encouragement led to The Princess Pilots: Across the Globe, a children’s book celebrating diverse young girls dreaming of the skies.
Published in April 2025, it features real-world inspiration behind each character and a second book—this one focused on helicopters—is already in the works.
And then there’s the Hover with Hargis Gala, which debuted in 2024 in partnership with Beth Ramirez, founder of Women with Wings. The event honors trailblazing women in aviation with titles like Ms. Women Who Hover, Ms. Women with Wrenches, and Ms. Women with Wings, all based on the values and impact of the candidates—not glitz or glam.
Lexi’s path hasn’t been easy, but she’s turned every roadblock into a runway. “The pain that I had in the military—it manifested and channeled its way into a creative way to give back,” she said. “The success of Hover with Hargis has been shown through the integrity of everything we do.”
No silver spoon. No family legacy in aviation. Just pure grit, a heart for service, and a deep belief in lifting others as she climbs (or hovers).
Lexi Hargis is proof that when you’re grounded in purpose, even a helicopter can feel like home.
If you want to keep up with Lexi’s journey, follow her on Instagram or purchase her book The Princess Pilots: Across the Globe on Amazon.
