Lady MacGyver: Unbelievable Stories with Altitude
By Michelle Huntington
From the cockpit of a Boeing 737 to the sun-kissed shores of Kiribati, Lady MacGyver is a remarkable memoir of grit, courage, and sky-high ambition.
Captain Michelle Huntington’s dream of flight took root at the age of seven—and, against all odds, she became one of just 500 female airline captains worldwide. Over two decades, she’s flown solo across vast oceans, landed on rugged outback strips, and even survived a lightning strike mid-flight.
Michelle’s journey through the aviation world is anything but conventional. She navigates a turbulent path, sidestepping naysayers and confronting systemic barriers. Through it all, she proves that with MacGyver-style ingenuity—and maybe a touch of insanity—no challenge is insurmountable.
Told with sharp wit and unflinching candour, Lady MacGyver is packed with exhilarating adventures and powerful insights into resilience and resourcefulness. Today, Michelle channels her experiences beyond the cockpit, speaking globally on neuroplasticity and mindset transformation, helping others face adversity and embrace change with clarity and conviction.
More than a memoir, Lady MacGyver is an inspiring tale of rising above limitations, and when the going gets tough, finding the strength to soar.
About the author:
Michelle Huntington is an artist, archaeologist, former airline captain, public speaker, and superhero mum. She’s flown solo across oceans, braved lightning storms, and now fires up audiences to embrace change with her signature MacGyver Mindset. Whether digging into the past, splashing vibrant colours onto a canvas, or navigating male-dominated industries at 35,000 feet, Michelle has made a life of defying limits and rewriting expectations.
Her journey into aviation began with a childhood dream — sparked by winning a fighter jet ride in a colouring competition — and endured despite being told, repeatedly, that it was impossible. That dream became reality through sheer grit, curiosity, and a refusal to conform. Along the way, she jerry-rigged aircraft across the Pacific, faced down lightning storms, mentored the next generation of pilots, and navigated institutional sexism with equal parts determination and ingenuity.
Now, Michelle brings those same skills to stages and boardrooms across the country. As a dynamic public speaker and consultant, she helps individuals and organisations turn challenges into competitive advantages. Her talks resonate because they go beyond aviation — audiences see themselves in her stories of resilience, innovation, and leading with authenticity under pressure. She doesn’t just inspire — she equips people to think differently, act boldly, and adapt fast.
Michelle is also the aviation advisor and expert commentator for ABC Radio, offering a grounded yet visionary perspective on the evolving world of flight. Her insight draws from a career spent on the front lines of high-stakes decision-making, but her message lands far beyond the cockpit.
She’s witnessed both the best and worst of human nature at altitude — from kindness in remote airfields to betrayal by those in positions of trust. These experiences have shaped her into a leader who values humanity just as much as skill. A cancer survivor and single mother, she understands what it means to persist — not just professionally, but personally.
Michelle Huntington lives and leads with purpose, showing others that resilience is not just about endurance, but creativity. That authenticity isn’t a weakness — it’s a superpower. And that when conventional paths collapse, innovation begins. For everyone who’s ever been told they don’t belong, or feared failure more than they trusted their instincts, Michelle stands as proof: you don’t need permission to chart a bold, original course. You just need the courage to start.
ISBN: 9781761099199
Publisher: Ginninderra Press
Credit: https://ginninderrapress.com.au/product/lady-macgyver-unbelievable-stories-with-altitude/
