Pancho Barnes

Florence lowe pancho barnes july 22 1901 march 30 1975 was a pioneer aviator and a founder of the first movie stunt pilots union.

Pancho barnes. Pancho pursued just about anything that interested her including partying. During her lifetime pancho born florence leontine lowe was reknowned for her individuality outsized personality creativity entrepreneurship humor generosity and integrity. News merchandise licensing info and more. Also known as the rancho oro verde fly inn dude ranch the establishment was a.

Florence pancho barnes became the first female stunt pilot in hollywood in 1929 and shattered amelia earhart s air speed record in 1930. Florence lowe was reared in an atmosphere of wealth and privilege on an estate in san marino california. A legend in the aviation community she was one of the first female pilots to. A made for tv movie in which valerie bertinelli portrays florence pancho barnes a bored socialite who decides to learn to fly.

On july 22 1901 florence leontine lowe was born to florence mae dobbins and thaddeus lowe jr the son of thaddeus s c. The official web site for pancho barnes and happy bottom riding club. As the granddaughter of thaddeus lowe who had. The legend of pancho barnes and the happy bottom riding club is a documentary profile of one of the most colorful and accomplished female pilots of the early 20th century.

She went on to work as a hollywood stunt pilot among many other things. The happy bottom riding club 1935 1953 was a dude ranch restaurant and hotel operated by aviator pancho barnes near edwards air force base in the antelope valley of california s mojave desert. 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. In 1930 she broke amelia earhart s air speed record.

Barnes and the club were both featured in tom wolfe s 1979 book the right stuff and the 1983 film adaptation. Lowe a balloonist and inventor who had pioneered american military aviation with the army of the potomac s balloon corps during the american civil war. Pancho barnes lived her life throttle to the firewall and wouldn t have it any other way. Pancho barnes aviator and movie stunt pilot one of the first american women to establish a reputation and a business in the field of aviation.

Pancho barnes tv movie 1988 cast and crew credits including actors actresses directors writers and more. Pancho barnes 1901 1975 was a fearless pilot and aviation pioneer flying at a time when flight was in its infancy.