What was the aviator Pancho Barnes’s original name?

Florence Lowe "Pancho" Barnes (July 22, 1901 – March 30, 1975) was a pioneer aviator, the founder of the first movie stunt pilots' union. In 1930, she broke Amelia Earhart's air speed record. Barnes raced in the Women's Air Derby and was a member of the Ninety-Nines. In later years, she was known as the owner of the Happy Bottom Riding Club, a bar and restaurant in the Mojave Desert, Southern California, catering to the test pilots and aviators who worked nearby.

She was born as Florence Leontine Lowe on July 22, 1901, to Thaddeus Lowe II (1870–1955) and his first wife, Florence May Dobbins, in Pasadena, California. She was born to a wealthy family, growing up in a huge mansion in San Marino, California. During her formative years, she attended the area's finest private schools. Her father, an avid sportsman, encouraged her to appreciate the great outdoors and Florence became an accomplished equestrian.

In 1919, Florence married Reverend C. Rankin Barnes of South Pasadena, California, and they had a son, William E. Barnes.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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Richard D. Boyle

Ken Walkley, thank you for that fascinating bit of test pilot history. You have supplied the flavoring to an otherwise bland soup. Inspired me to pull my old copy of The Right Stuff down from the shelf and reread the relevant portions.

Ken Walkley

Colin Brumwell, I suggest you rent and watch the movie "The Right Stuff." You'll find out who Pancho was very early on in the story. She was an important figure in the history of test pilots out at Edwards AFB. She offered a full steak dinner to the first pilot to break the sound barrier (that pilot, of course, is Chuck Yeager -- if you know what Chuck looked like, you'll see him at Pancho's, but not as a pilot) This is significant history, and Pancho was an integral part of the story. " There are old test pilots and there are bold test pilots, but there are no old, bold test pilots." Al Shepard, first American in space. Girl at Pancho's: I just noticed that a fancy pilot like Slick over there doesn't have his picture on your wall. What do you have to do to get your picture up there anyway? Pancho Barnes: You have to die, sweetie.