Louise McPhetridge Thaden, 1905-1979
Born in Bentonville, Arkansas, Louise Thaden left college to sell airplanes for Walter Beech’s Travel Air
Corporation in California. In 1928, she earned her pilot’s license and set an altitude record of 20,260 feet. She set
a U.S. women’s endurance record, staying aloft more than 22 hours. In 1929, she became only the fourth woman
to earn a transport pilot license.
Louise won the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, called the Powder Puff Derby, beating friends Amelia Earhart and
Pancho Barnes. During the 1930s, Louise chalked up one altitude, endurance, and speed record after another,
becoming the one of most famous female aviators of what is now considered “the golden age of aviation.” She set
the 109.58mph speed record in 1936.
She and Amelia co-founded the Ninety-Nines, an organization of women pilots which thrives today. Thaden and
other women aviators toured the United States, marking geographic references on rooftops and hillsides to aid
pilots. Louise won the National Air Races' Bendix Trophy in 1936, the first year in which women were allowed to
compete, setting a new east-west record of just under 15 hours. During World War II, Louise attained the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel with the Civil Air Patrol.
In her 1938 memoirs, High, Wide and Frightened, Louise wryly noted that a pilot who claims never to have been
frightened is lying.
Born in Bentonville, Arkansas, Louise Thaden left college to sell airplanes for Walter Beech’s Travel Air
Corporation in California. In 1928, she earned her pilot’s license and set an altitude record of 20,260 feet. She set
a U.S. women’s endurance record, staying aloft more than 22 hours. In 1929, she became only the fourth woman
to earn a transport pilot license.
Louise won the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, called the Powder Puff Derby, beating friends Amelia Earhart and
Pancho Barnes. During the 1930s, Louise chalked up one altitude, endurance, and speed record after another,
becoming the one of most famous female aviators of what is now considered “the golden age of aviation.” She set
the 109.58mph speed record in 1936.
She and Amelia co-founded the Ninety-Nines, an organization of women pilots which thrives today. Thaden and
other women aviators toured the United States, marking geographic references on rooftops and hillsides to aid
pilots. Louise won the National Air Races' Bendix Trophy in 1936, the first year in which women were allowed to
compete, setting a new east-west record of just under 15 hours. During World War II, Louise attained the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel with the Civil Air Patrol.
In her 1938 memoirs, High, Wide and Frightened, Louise wryly noted that a pilot who claims never to have been
frightened is lying.
Click the "back" arrow to return to previous page.