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One-time fastest woman on Earth - who flew planes upside down - dies aged 85
The Daily Mail (UK) ^
| 9/14/11
| Staff
Posted on 09/14/2011 6:51:50 PM PDT by ruralvoter
Betty Skelton Erde, an aviator and auto racing pioneer who became the fastest woman on Earth in 1965, has died. She was 85.
Erde set female speed records at Daytona Beach and Utah's Bonneville salt flats more than half a century ago.
In 2008, she was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in suburban Detroit.
Dozens of firsts are attached to her name: the auto industry's first female test driver in 1954; the first to set a female world land speed record in 1956 (145 mph at Daytona Beach); and the world land speed record for women in 1965, hitting 315.72 mph at Bonneville.
Erde began drawing attention as a female stunt pilot as a teenager in the 1940s.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bettyskeltonerde; cars; corvette; plane; racing
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The article includes pictures and a video.
To: ruralvoter
She flew upside down with no crackup?
2
posted on
09/14/2011 7:03:44 PM PDT
by
Past Your Eyes
(I'm sticking with Herman. No more second terms!)
To: ruralvoter
My we lead boring lives these days...
Betty first rose to fame in the 1940s when, as a teenage, she was already a stunt pilot
3
posted on
09/14/2011 7:12:50 PM PDT
by
TSgt
(When in the Course of human events...)
To: ruralvoter
4
posted on
09/14/2011 7:13:45 PM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(Rick Perry has more red flags than a May Day Parade)
To: ruralvoter
‘Betty Skelton Erde, an aviator...’
It’s too bad that the romance and fearless adventure inherent in the word “aviatrix” seems to have disappeared from the language along with the word.
5
posted on
09/14/2011 7:14:43 PM PDT
by
Postman
(Cut, Cap and BBA)
To: ruralvoter; a fool in paradise; JoeProBono
who flew planes upside downUpside down? Who's ever heard of that?! No wonder she's dead!
To: Past Your Eyes
God will get you for that.
7
posted on
09/14/2011 7:15:41 PM PDT
by
Postman
(Cut, Cap and BBA)
To: Past Your Eyes
8
posted on
09/14/2011 7:16:55 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(It's never a bad time to FReep this link -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: ruralvoter
Love the dress in the video.
Wish they'd bring back the 40’s dresses - when they fit a woman's body and the fabric was cut so as to drape/fall beautifully.
9
posted on
09/14/2011 7:17:23 PM PDT
by
maine-iac7
(ALWAYS WATCH THE OTHER HAND)
To: ruralvoter
When I was a young lad, my dad gave me ONE pieve of advice...”son..stay away from fast cars and faster women...”
10
posted on
09/14/2011 7:19:04 PM PDT
by
ken5050
(Save the EARTH...it's the ONLY planet with CHOCOLATE!!!)
To: maine-iac7
I wish they’d bring back 1940’s women...
11
posted on
09/14/2011 7:20:19 PM PDT
by
TSgt
(When in the Course of human events...)
To: ken5050
It’s faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money...
12
posted on
09/14/2011 7:21:50 PM PDT
by
TSgt
(When in the Course of human events...)
To: Postman
Sometimes it comes at you like a beachball at Fenway Park. You can’t help but hit it.
13
posted on
09/14/2011 7:22:08 PM PDT
by
Past Your Eyes
(I'm sticking with Herman. No more second terms!)
To: Revolting cat!
14
posted on
09/14/2011 7:23:35 PM PDT
by
knarf
(I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
To: TSgt
I work with veterans...many of them ladies from Iraq and Afghanistan and I am happy to report that the amazing creature known as the American She Devil is still out there amigo....
15
posted on
09/14/2011 7:24:00 PM PDT
by
Keith Brown
(Among the other evils being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised Machiavelli.)
To: Revolting cat!
16
posted on
09/14/2011 7:25:44 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: knarf
I can only say: WOW!~Thanks.
To: Revolting cat!; ExTexasRedhead
That is a gift from ExTexasRedhead.
Yeah ... WAAYYY cool.
18
posted on
09/14/2011 7:38:31 PM PDT
by
knarf
(I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
To: Postman; Past Your Eyes
Ancient Confucian joke...
19
posted on
09/14/2011 7:41:14 PM PDT
by
TXnMA
("Allah": Satan's current alias...)
To: ruralvoter
RIP Betty-It sounds like you had FUN!
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