April 24, 1929: A new flight endurance record for women was set today, as 17-year-old Elinor Smith stayed in the air for an incredible 26 hours, 21 minutes and 32 seconds. A new flight endurance record for women was set today, as 17-year-old Elinor Smith stayed in the air for an incredible 26 hours, 21 minutes and 32 seconds.April 24, 1929: A new flight endurance record for women was set today, as 17-year-old Elinor Smith stayed in the air for an incredible 26 hours, 21 minutes and 32 seconds.
She is the first woman to fly over 24 consecutive hours, eclipsing the old mark set by Louise McPhetridge by four hours and eighteen minutes. Not only did she set the record, she flew the last couple of hours with a faulty stabilizer control.
Despite her age, she has a good deal of flying experience. She took her first plane ride at age six, and began taking flying lessons at ten, though she had to sit on a pillow and her instructor had to tie blocks to the rudder pedals so her feet could reach. She soloed for the first time at the age of fifteen, and set an official altitude record for a light plane of 11,889 feet three months later.
Orville Wright finalized her pilot’s license from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, and in September of 1927 she became the youngest U.S. Government licensed pilot on record, just a few weeks after her 16th birthday. Today she is one of only 177 licensed women pilots in the country.
The “Flying Flapper of Freeport” has been well known to New Yorkers since October 21st, when she flew under the East River bridges, dodging several ships as she did so. Her feat today rated a telegram from Amelia Earhart, saying: “Congratulations. You’re famous.”
She even got a visit from the designer of her Bellanca monoplane, when Mr. Bellanca flew in from New Castle, Delaware, to greet her.
Smith didn’t say what she had planned next, but whatever it turns out to be it will certainly advance both aviation and the status of women in that profession, so the best of luck to her !
