Blanche Scott, American Aviatrix and Daredevil

Blanche Stuart Scott (April 8, 1884 - January 12, 1970) was an American aviatrix. In 1910 Scott became the second woman to drive an automobile across the US and the first driving westwards from NYC to San Francisco. The publicity surrounding automobile journey brought her to the attention of Glenn Curtiss who agreed to provide her with flying lessons. making her the only woman to receive instruction directly from Curtiss. She was the first woman to fly at a public event in America where her exhibition flying earned her the nickname, Tomboy of the Air. She became an accomplished stunt pilot know for flying upside down and performing death dives. In 1911 she became the first woman in America to fly long distance when she flew 60 miles non-stop from New York. In 1912 Scott contracted to fly for Glenn Martin and became the first female test pilot when she flew prototypes before the final blueprints for the aircraft had been made. She retired from flying in 1916 because she was bothered by the public's interest in air crashes and an aviation industry which allowed no opportunity for women. In the 1930s Scott worked as a scriptwriter for RKO, Universal Studios and Warner Brothers. In 1948, Scott became the first American woman to fly in a jet when she was the passenger in a TF-80C piloted by Chuck Yeager. She never married, and died in 1970, at the age of 84. Bain News Service, 1915-1920

Picture No

12697452

Media ID

47703786

Size

4200px x 3225px (2.8MB)

Credit

LOC/Science Source/Mary Evans