A Travel Air Type R Mystery Ship carried Florence Leontine Lowe, known as Pancho Barnes, to a world speed record of 196.19 miles per hour in 1930. This performance surpassed the existing record set by Amelia Earhart, establishing Barnes as a central figure in the competitive aviation circuit of the early twentieth century.
From Pasadena to the Air Races
Born in Pasadena in 1901 to a wealthy family, Barnes received an early introduction to aviation through her grandfather, Thaddeus S. C. Lowe, who organized the balloon corps during the American Civil War. After living briefly in Mexico, she adopted the name Pancho in 1928. That same year, she undertook formal flight instruction, soloing after six hours of training. She quickly transitioned to professional flying, organizing air shows and participating in the Women’s Air Derby.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Hollywood and Stunt Aviation
Following the conclusion of her sponsorship contract with Union Oil, Barnes relocated to Hollywood to work as a film stunt pilot. In 1931, she established the Associated Motion Picture Pilots, a labor organization intended to standardize pay rates and enforce safety protocols for aerial stunts. Her flying credits included work on the 1930 film Hell's Angels, and she utilized her Hollywood connections to assist the career of photographer George Hurrell.
The Happy Bottom Riding Club
In 1935, following financial losses during the Great Depression, Barnes purchased 180 acres of land near the Rogers dry lake bed in the Mojave Desert. She developed the site into the Happy Bottom Riding Club, a dude ranch and restaurant that catered to test pilots from the nearby Muroc Field, later known as Edwards Air Force Base. The facility became a focal point for the base's aviation community, famously offering complimentary steak dinners to pilots who successfully broke the sound barrier.
Legal Disputes and Later Years
A conflict with the United States Air Force emerged in 1952 when the military sought her land to construct an atomic-powered aircraft runway. After the government attempted to acquire the property at a low valuation, Barnes challenged the base leadership in court. Despite a mysterious fire destroying the ranch in 1953, the legal battle resulted in a $375,000 judgment in her favor. The planned runway was never constructed. By the late 1960s, she reconciled with military leadership at Edwards, where she was honored with a namesake room in the officer's mess.
Fast facts
- Name: Florence Leontine Lowe
- Born: 1901, Pasadena
- Died: 1975, Boron
- Primary Occupation: Aircraft pilot
- Education: The Bishop's School
- Notable Record: 196.19 mph speed record (1930)
- Ranch Name: Happy Bottom Riding Club
Questions readers ask
How did Pancho Barnes gain her nickname?
She adopted the nickname Pancho in 1928 after spending four months in Mexico, where she was briefly involved with revolutionaries and occasionally disguised herself as a man.
Why was the Happy Bottom Riding Club closed?
The United States Air Force sought the land for an expanded runway, leading to a legal dispute, the branding of the ranch as a house of ill-repute, and eventually a government buyout.
Achievements
- Recorded as aircraft pilot
