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THE SUNDAY TELEGRAM
ELMIRA STAR-GAZETTE SUNDAY EDITION
ELMIRA, N.Y., SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1953

Pioneer Aviatrix Tells of Early Days as Flier, Era of Glenn H. Curtiss
by FRANCES NETTLETON

Hornell--"Oh brother, here we go again," said Betty, now a resident of Hornell, when interviewed about her aviation and other exploits.

Betty, more formally known as Mrs. Blanche Stuart Scott, in years past won plaudits as first woman aviator, first girl to drive a car from coast to coast - and several other "firsts".

Mrs. Scott, as a commentator on Station WLEA here, thus has return to the Southern Tier where she was a protege of the late Mr. and Mrs. Glenn H. Curtiss of Hammondsport and began the most startling phase of her career.

To her fellow members of the "Early Birds," that fabulous organization of the pioneers and heroes of aviation, she will always be "Betty the Sky Bird."

Betty is not adverse to publicity--in fact she was brought up and thrived on it when most of the feminine world only received mention as vital statistics, that is, when born, married and ended a secluded career as an obituary.

Not Betty.  She shies from all mention of age and data like that.  She admits being a native of Rochester and is proud of it - but when is and always be the proverbial $64 question.

Other bits of information are more easily obtained.  For instance her first spot of limelight came, when at the age of 13 or thereabouts, she caused consternation among the City Fathers of Rochester because she was driving one of those horrible automobiles around the town.

The authorities attempted to shoo her off the streets with the contraption which frightened horses and caused the more timid feminines to develop "vapors."  Betty undismayed at the tempest her lack of femininity was causing, calmly pointed out that there was no law against her driving.  This was so and the City Fathers retired with as much dignity as they could assume.

After being sent to an exclusive girl's school she proceeded to tuck the "modes and manners" gleaned there away for future reference and astounded the nation by driving an automobile from Manhattan to California.

The publicity made the young adventurer famous and many offers of various kinds were forthcoming. Only one, however, appealed to Betty.  She wanted to learn to fly. So under the tutel-

the porch steps in a sprawling heap. 

From Hammondsport Betty travelled far as one of the original Curtiss flying crew, and its only woman member. 

Miss Scott has also done script writing for the early and more recent movies. Her mother's failing health some 12 years ago brought her back to Rochester where she became famous as "Roberta" on radio. Radio was not entirely new to her as she had done much work in the west. 

Currently with the Hornell station she recently was honored at the Dayton Air Show as one of the pioneer aviators along with Eddie Rickenbacher and others. 

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