COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A group is raising money to create a bronze, life-sized statue of the Ohioan who was the first woman to fly solo around the world.

Newark native Geraldine Mock's historic flight ended in Columbus 48 years ago, and supporters plan to honor her with the statue at a history center in her hometown.

Mock tells The Columbus Dispatch ( http://bit.ly/IKjeT6 ) she's surprised by the plan. She says she thinks of statues as being more "for generals or Lincoln," not generally for women.

The 86-year-old Mock now lives in Quincy, Fla., but her sister Susan Reid remains in Newark and believes people had largely forgotten about Mock's accomplishment.

Reid says supporters have raised about half of the $45,000 needed for the project.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com