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Pilot, Author and Mom
Hi, My name is Bette and although my father had worked at Douglas Aircraft
all my life, I never rode in an airplane until I was in High School. My dad
even took me out to the Long Beach Harbor to see the first and only flight
of Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose".
I married a jet pilot a few years after High School and flew with him in small
airplanes for 13 years, including learning how to navigate, talk on the radio
and fly the airplane in formation with another, while he hung out the window
taking photos for aviation magazine covers.
When I was 32 I finally soloed in my very own 1946 Aeronca Champ. Then
my husband, flight instructor and father to my six children, suddenly was
gone, along with my job of editing his aviation writing. The airplane was the
only thing I had, really, and the kiddies wanted to fly, so I got my pilot's
license in 1970. That little airplane saved my life!
Soon I was piloting a vintage (1942) open-cockpit biplane around the
country and learning that you didn't need a father, brother or husband to
tell you what to do and how to do it! People started asking me to ferry
antique airplanes here and there, with a road map, no radios, batteries for
lights, often not even a starter, requiring someone to "give me a prop". My
children grew up at airports and a couple of them learned to fly, one
girl and one boy, at least. My daughter had her own airplane for awhile and
my son is a Captain for American Airlines. Another son learned so much
about aviation by being at airports and flying with me, that he worked on
Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004 program.
But I have had a wonderful career as a part-time pilot, and full-time editor,
often of aviation subject matter. I have met many wonderful people,
including my present husband, who I met when I was running a glider
school in Vermont. I have flown modern aircraft in formation for magazine
covers. I have flown many types of aircraft, from gliders to twin-engines. I
have owned or co-owned 14 different airplanes and in 2007 celebrated
fifty years of flight. Until last year, 2009, I flew my third Aeronca Champ at
least once a week, but now have retired from solo flight due to eyesight.
Today I wonder what I would do with all the money I have spent at
airports!! I guess I know. I would live in a big house, instead of attached
to a big hangar!! But I probably wouldn't be happy.
Our EAA chapter had a Junior ROTC program where the high school kids
from all over Arizona were bussed down from their summer encampment
near Flagstaff, to us in central Arizona and we gathered 10 to 14 airplanes
and did the Young Eagle thing. We did from 150 to 200 in three mornings.
More and more young girls are taking part in ROTC, so I got a chance to
give them the pitch about women in the air.
Hi, My name is Bette and although my father had worked at Douglas Aircraft
all my life, I never rode in an airplane until I was in High School. My dad
even took me out to the Long Beach Harbor to see the first and only flight
of Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose".
I married a jet pilot a few years after High School and flew with him in small
airplanes for 13 years, including learning how to navigate, talk on the radio
and fly the airplane in formation with another, while he hung out the window
taking photos for aviation magazine covers.
When I was 32 I finally soloed in my very own 1946 Aeronca Champ. Then
my husband, flight instructor and father to my six children, suddenly was
gone, along with my job of editing his aviation writing. The airplane was the
only thing I had, really, and the kiddies wanted to fly, so I got my pilot's
license in 1970. That little airplane saved my life!
Soon I was piloting a vintage (1942) open-cockpit biplane around the
country and learning that you didn't need a father, brother or husband to
tell you what to do and how to do it! People started asking me to ferry
antique airplanes here and there, with a road map, no radios, batteries for
lights, often not even a starter, requiring someone to "give me a prop". My
children grew up at airports and a couple of them learned to fly, one
girl and one boy, at least. My daughter had her own airplane for awhile and
my son is a Captain for American Airlines. Another son learned so much
about aviation by being at airports and flying with me, that he worked on
Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004 program.
But I have had a wonderful career as a part-time pilot, and full-time editor,
often of aviation subject matter. I have met many wonderful people,
including my present husband, who I met when I was running a glider
school in Vermont. I have flown modern aircraft in formation for magazine
covers. I have flown many types of aircraft, from gliders to twin-engines. I
have owned or co-owned 14 different airplanes and in 2007 celebrated
fifty years of flight. Until last year, 2009, I flew my third Aeronca Champ at
least once a week, but now have retired from solo flight due to eyesight.
Today I wonder what I would do with all the money I have spent at
airports!! I guess I know. I would live in a big house, instead of attached
to a big hangar!! But I probably wouldn't be happy.
Our EAA chapter had a Junior ROTC program where the high school kids
from all over Arizona were bussed down from their summer encampment
near Flagstaff, to us in central Arizona and we gathered 10 to 14 airplanes
and did the Young Eagle thing. We did from 150 to 200 in three mornings.
More and more young girls are taking part in ROTC, so I got a chance to
give them the pitch about women in the air.
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
TM
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
TM
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
TM
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