Betty Skelton Erde

Betty Skelton Erde (June 28, 1926 – August 31, 2011) was a land speed record holder and aerobatics pilot who set 17 aviation and automobile records. She was known as The First Lady of Firsts, and helped create opportunities for women in aviation, auto racing, astronautics and advertising.

Early years

She was born Betty Skelton in Pensacola, Florida on June 28, 1926. Her parents were teenagers and Betty was their only child. As a toddler, she was fascinated by the airplanes that flew over her home near the Naval Air Station and preferred model airplanes over dolls. When she turned eight, she started reading books on aviation and made her parents realize that she was serious about flying. Whenever they could, the family spent time at the municipal airport. She would talk pilots into letting her ride on local flights.

Kenneth Wright, a Navy Ensign, took a special interest in the Skeltons and provided instruction to Betty and her parents. Wright allowed her to solo in his Taylorcraft airplane when she was 12 years old, which was not permitted. After receiving her Civil Aviation Authority private pilot’s license at age 16, she qualified for the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program, but the minimum age was 18½, so she was forced to wait. WASP participants ferried Air Force pilots and aircraft to their duty stations, and it was the only flying program that accepted women. Sadly for Betty, it was discontinued four months before she reached the required age.