On Friday, July 1, we had the pleasure of taking 87-year old Bonnie Jeanne Scholes for a flight in our Travel Air 12W. Jean visited our museum back in May at the airport’s pancake breakfast and mentioned that she was, “…the first woman to land at Brodhead Airport. In 1945!”

Cindy Heckman helps Jeanne Scholes buckle in to the 12W

Jeanne told many stories of her flying career that started at age 15 at the Beloit Airport flying PT-19s, Stearmans and many other aircraft. She stopped flying after she got married in the late 1940s but continued to fly throughout the years with her husband Al, who was a corporate pilot.

Jeanne flashes a thumbs up after the flight with Greg Heckman.

We invited her to take a ride with us, and she very enthusiastically accepted. We haven’t seen anybody as excited for an airplane ride in a very long time. Check out the video below and watch the big smile and thumbs up at the end. What a hoot!

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