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- "Ruth Elder's Ocean Flight," 1927 - Ruth Elder fell short of her goal to be the first woman to fly the Atlantic in 1927, but the public loved her just the same. She competed in the 1929 Women's Air Derby and parlayed her aviation fame into a modest film career. Elder was fondly remembered as the "Miss America of the Air" when she died in 1977.
- October 22, 1927
- Collections - Artifact
"Ruth Elder's Ocean Flight," 1927
Ruth Elder fell short of her goal to be the first woman to fly the Atlantic in 1927, but the public loved her just the same. She competed in the 1929 Women's Air Derby and parlayed her aviation fame into a modest film career. Elder was fondly remembered as the "Miss America of the Air" when she died in 1977.
- Lady Mary Heath and William Brock, National Air Races, Cleveland, Ohio, 1929 - Irish pilot Mary, Lady Heath, was a champion athlete before earning her commercial pilot's license in 1927 -- the first woman in Ireland or Great Britain to do so. In 1928 she made headlines flying solo from Cape Town, South Africa, to London. Lady Heath never fully recovered from a crash she suffered at the 1929 National Air Races in Cleveland.
- August 29, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Lady Mary Heath and William Brock, National Air Races, Cleveland, Ohio, 1929
Irish pilot Mary, Lady Heath, was a champion athlete before earning her commercial pilot's license in 1927 -- the first woman in Ireland or Great Britain to do so. In 1928 she made headlines flying solo from Cape Town, South Africa, to London. Lady Heath never fully recovered from a crash she suffered at the 1929 National Air Races in Cleveland.
- Lillian Boyer Performing Stunts from an Airplane in Flight, circa 1922 - Would you climb out on the wing of an airplane? In 1921, Lillian Boyer did after only her second time in the air. This fearless decision led her to become a wing walker, performing death-defying aerial feats. She hung by her teeth, ankles, and toes. She balanced on her head. She even changed planes in midair. Her stunts garnered headlines wherever she performed.
- September 01, 1922
- Collections - Artifact
Lillian Boyer Performing Stunts from an Airplane in Flight, circa 1922
Would you climb out on the wing of an airplane? In 1921, Lillian Boyer did after only her second time in the air. This fearless decision led her to become a wing walker, performing death-defying aerial feats. She hung by her teeth, ankles, and toes. She balanced on her head. She even changed planes in midair. Her stunts garnered headlines wherever she performed.
- Lillian Boyer Performing Stunts with an Airplane in Flight, circa 1922 - Would you climb out on the wing of an airplane? In 1921, Lillian Boyer did after only her second time in the air. This fearless decision led her to become a wing walker, performing death-defying aerial feats. She hung by her teeth, ankles, and toes. She balanced on her head. She even changed planes in midair. Her stunts garnered headlines wherever she performed.
- circa 1922
- Collections - Artifact
Lillian Boyer Performing Stunts with an Airplane in Flight, circa 1922
Would you climb out on the wing of an airplane? In 1921, Lillian Boyer did after only her second time in the air. This fearless decision led her to become a wing walker, performing death-defying aerial feats. She hung by her teeth, ankles, and toes. She balanced on her head. She even changed planes in midair. Her stunts garnered headlines wherever she performed.
- Aerial Stunt Performer Lillian Boyer Standing Atop an Airplane, circa 1922 - Would you climb out on the wing of an airplane? In 1921, Lillian Boyer did after only her second time in the air. This fearless decision led her to become a wing walker, performing death-defying aerial feats. She hung by her teeth, ankles, and toes. She balanced on her head. She even changed planes in midair. Her stunts garnered headlines wherever she performed.
- circa 1922
- Collections - Artifact
Aerial Stunt Performer Lillian Boyer Standing Atop an Airplane, circa 1922
Would you climb out on the wing of an airplane? In 1921, Lillian Boyer did after only her second time in the air. This fearless decision led her to become a wing walker, performing death-defying aerial feats. She hung by her teeth, ankles, and toes. She balanced on her head. She even changed planes in midair. Her stunts garnered headlines wherever she performed.
- Lillian Boyer Performing a Stunt, Transferring from Moving Car to Airplane in Flight, 1922-1927 - Would you climb out on the wing of an airplane? In 1921, Lillian Boyer did after only her second time in the air. This fearless decision led her to become a wing walker, performing death-defying aerial feats. She hung by her teeth, ankles, and toes. She balanced on her head. She even changed planes in midair. Her stunts garnered headlines wherever she performed.
- 1922-1927
- Collections - Artifact
Lillian Boyer Performing a Stunt, Transferring from Moving Car to Airplane in Flight, 1922-1927
Would you climb out on the wing of an airplane? In 1921, Lillian Boyer did after only her second time in the air. This fearless decision led her to become a wing walker, performing death-defying aerial feats. She hung by her teeth, ankles, and toes. She balanced on her head. She even changed planes in midair. Her stunts garnered headlines wherever she performed.
- Edward F. Schlee and William S. Brock, 1927-1932 - William S. Brock (left) and Edward F. Schlee attempted to fly their airplane <em>Pride of Detroit</em> around the world in 1927. Starting from Harbour Grace, Canada, they flew east for 12,295 miles. At Tokyo, Japan, a typhoon convinced them to end the effort. Nevertheless, Brock and Schlee were welcomed as heroes when they returned -- by ship -- to the United States.
- 1927-1932
- Collections - Artifact
Edward F. Schlee and William S. Brock, 1927-1932
William S. Brock (left) and Edward F. Schlee attempted to fly their airplane Pride of Detroit around the world in 1927. Starting from Harbour Grace, Canada, they flew east for 12,295 miles. At Tokyo, Japan, a typhoon convinced them to end the effort. Nevertheless, Brock and Schlee were welcomed as heroes when they returned -- by ship -- to the United States.
- Newspaper Article, "Lillian Boyer to Thrill Fair Crowds on Closing Day," August 7, 1925 - Wing walker Lillian Boyer performed death-defying acts on a plane piloted by the steady hand of Lt. William "Billy" Brock. The two barnstormed across America in the 1920s and thrilled crowds with their daring stunts. But by the end of the decade increased safety regulations forced many barnstormers into retirement. The two split up; Brock attempted an around-the-world flight in 1927 and Boyer retired a year later.
- August 07, 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Newspaper Article, "Lillian Boyer to Thrill Fair Crowds on Closing Day," August 7, 1925
Wing walker Lillian Boyer performed death-defying acts on a plane piloted by the steady hand of Lt. William "Billy" Brock. The two barnstormed across America in the 1920s and thrilled crowds with their daring stunts. But by the end of the decade increased safety regulations forced many barnstormers into retirement. The two split up; Brock attempted an around-the-world flight in 1927 and Boyer retired a year later.
- Program for Women's Aeronautical Association of Detroit, "Fly High," 1929 - The Women's Aeronautical Association of Detroit supported the growth and development of the aviation industry. It sponsored lectures and visits from prominent pilots like Amelia Earhart, Phoebe Omlie and Mary, Lady Heath. Association members included Mary Von Mach, Michigan's first licensed female pilot, and Violet Brock and Leah Schlee, wives of attempted around-the-world flyers William Brock and Edward Schlee.
- 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Program for Women's Aeronautical Association of Detroit, "Fly High," 1929
The Women's Aeronautical Association of Detroit supported the growth and development of the aviation industry. It sponsored lectures and visits from prominent pilots like Amelia Earhart, Phoebe Omlie and Mary, Lady Heath. Association members included Mary Von Mach, Michigan's first licensed female pilot, and Violet Brock and Leah Schlee, wives of attempted around-the-world flyers William Brock and Edward Schlee.
- "Jersey" Ringel Performing a Stunt on an Airplane in Flight, circa 1921 - In the early 1920s, barnstorming swept the United States. Pilots in surplus World War I airplanes toured the country performing sensational stunts for enthusiastic audiences. Many flyers lost their lives to these dangerous aerobatics. Barnstormer Philip "Jersey" Ringel died following an airplane crash in 1930 -- ironically, it was a routine flight and not a stunt performance.
- circa 1921
- Collections - Artifact
"Jersey" Ringel Performing a Stunt on an Airplane in Flight, circa 1921
In the early 1920s, barnstorming swept the United States. Pilots in surplus World War I airplanes toured the country performing sensational stunts for enthusiastic audiences. Many flyers lost their lives to these dangerous aerobatics. Barnstormer Philip "Jersey" Ringel died following an airplane crash in 1930 -- ironically, it was a routine flight and not a stunt performance.