Happy Bottom Riding Club

[warrprayer]

Was treated this a.m. to the P.B.S. special about this fascinating part of aviation history.

What an amazing story.


"Florence Lowe "Pancho" Barnes (July 22, 1901 – March 30, 1975) was a pioneer aviator, the founder of the first movie stunt pilots' union. In 1930, she broke Amelia Earhart's air speed record.[2] Barnes raced in the Women's Air Derby and was a member of the Ninety-Nines. In later years, she was known as the owner of the Happy Bottom Riding Club, a bar and restaurant in the Mojave Desert, Southern California, catering to the test pilots and aviators who worked nearby.[2]"
- Wiki



What an amazing woman.



Her ashes were scattered over Edwards AFB.

Barnes suffered from breast cancer, likely the ultimate cause of her death. She was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Antelope Valley Aero Museum's annual "Barnstormers Reunion" on April 5, 1975. However, when a friend called on March 30, she could not reach her. Her son Bill found her dead in her home and the coroner determined that she had died several days earlier.[2][3] Bill obtained special permission which was granted from the United States Air Force to spread her ashes over the site of the Happy Bottom Riding Club. He then flew an aircraft over the site, but a crosswind came up sweeping the ashes back into the small Cessna aircraft, to be carried aloft again. "Even in death Barnes still loved a good joy ride."[1]" (Wiki)



Once upon a time in America....

[Major Nikon]

1. Bob Hoover and Chuck Yeager wrote and spoke about her extensively

She evidently left quite an impression

[warrprayer]

2. She went head to head

With a replacement Mickey Mouse base commander, and they sicced J. Edgar Hoover on her.
She didn't back down.
They burned her place down.
She was at an auction to try to buy her old 30's racing plane back.
She could not afford it, but got it anyway - nobody there would bid against her.
Incredible story.