Blanche Stuart Scott First American female aviator Date of Birth: 08.04.1885 Country: USA

Biography of Blanche Stuart Scott

Blanche Stuart Scott, also known as Betty Scott, was born on April 8, 1885, in Rochester, New York, to Belle and John Scott. Her father was a successful businessman who manufactured and sold medications. Blanche developed an interest in automobiles as soon as they appeared, and her father bought her a car, which she drove around the city before age restrictions for driving licenses were introduced.

Considered a tomboy by her family, Blanche was sent to a private girls' school to complete her education. In 1910, she became the second woman, after Alice Huyler Ramsey, to cross the United States from coast to coast by car, and the first to drive from New York City to San Francisco. The trip was sponsored by the Willys-Overland Company, and Blanche's car was named "Lady Overland." Accompanied by Gertrude Buffington Phillips, a woman reporter, they departed from New York on May 16, 1910, and arrived in San Francisco on July 23. The journey was covered in national newspapers, including the New York Times, which highlighted their aim to demonstrate women's abilities in driving and performing necessary repairs along the way.

This automobile journey brought Blanche attention from Jerome Fanciulli, an aviation journalist, and Glenn Curtiss, a pioneer aviator and one of the founders of the aviation industry. They agreed to give Blanche flying lessons in Hammondsport, New York. Blanche became the only woman to receive direct instruction from Curtiss. On September 6, 1910, during a practice session, Blanche accidentally took off in an airplane, reaching a height of 40 feet before making a safe landing. Although her flight was short, it marked her as the first woman in the United States to solo in an airplane, although Bessica Medlar Raiche's flight on September 16 is recognized as the first by the Aeronautical Society of America.

Blanche Scott went on to become a professional aviator and debuted as a member of Curtiss's team at an aviation meet in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on October 24, 1910. She was the first American woman to take to the air at a public event, earning her the nickname "Tomboy of the Air." Known for her daring aerial stunts, she performed flips and free falls from heights of 4,000 feet before soaring back up to just 200 feet above the ground. In 1911, she became the first American woman to fly long distances, covering 60 miles without stopping from Mineola, New York.

In 1912, Blanche signed a contract with Glenn Martin and became the first woman test pilot, flying prototype Martin aircraft before their final designs were completed. However, in 1916, at the age of 31, she retired from flying due to the public's morbid fascination with aviation accidents and the aviation industry's limited opportunities for women as mechanics or engineers.

During the 1930s, Blanche worked as a screenwriter for RKO, Universal Studios, and Warner Brothers in California. She also wrote, produced, and performed in radio shows that aired in California and Rochester. On September 6, 1948, she became the first American woman to fly in a jet plane, albeit as a passenger. Chuck Yeager, aware of Blanche's reputation as one of the early stunt performers, demonstrated various maneuvers, including barrel rolls and a free fall from 14,000 feet.

In 1954, Blanche began working at the United States Air Force Museum, where she collected materials related to early aviation. She passed away on January 12, 1970, at the age of 84. On December 30, 1980, the United States Postal Service released a stamp commemorating Blanche Stuart Scott for her contributions to aviation.