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Seated before the intricate controls of the huge Concorde supersonic airliner, Smith shares experiences with a British Airways captain.

She was the first woman to pilot a plane for mass parachute drops. She was NBS Radio's first woman commentator and international broadcaster, aviation editor of Liberty magazine, and author of articles for other top magazines of the day.

Last October, Smith was inducted into the OX 5 Aviation Pioneers Hall of Fame in Pittsburgh, the only woman to be so recognized in 1981.

Born August 17, 1911, she grew up in Freeport, Long Island, not far from Roosevelt Field. She retired from flying in the early 1930s to marry Patrick Sullivan, a legislator-attorney, and raise a family of four. Her husband died in 1956.

In 1960, an invitation to address the United States Air Force Association led her back into the world of aviation; she piloted a T-33 jet trainer. With that flight, Smith chalked up

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HIGHLIGHTS OF SMITH'S AIRBORNE CAREER
Here are the major highlights and records of Elinor Smith's amazing career in the skies. Some of her records still stand. 

May 1927: at 15, she soloed at Roosevelt Field two weeks before Charles Lindbergh flew to Paris. Lindbergh shook "the youngest pilot's" hand.

August 1927:Set 11,874-foot light plane altitude record. It was unofficial because of her age. 

August 1928: At 16, earned teh Federation Aeronautique Internationale flying license, signed by Orville Wright. She was the youngest pilot to hold this license. 

October 1928:Flew under all four of New York City's East River bridges. She was the first and only pilot to accomplish the feat.

January 1929: Set women's world solo endurance record of 13 1/2 hours in open cockpit Bird plane at Mitchel Field.

April 1929: Increased endurance record to 26 1/2 hours in Bellanca monoplane at Roosevelt Field. Record still stands.

June 1929: Set women's world speed record of 190.8 miles per hour in Cutriss Falxon over closed course, Motor Parkway, Long Island.

June 1929: Hired by Irvin Chute Company as first woman executive pilot to fly Bellanca monoplane on United States tour to demonstrate parachute drops.

September 1929: Was the only female aviator to fly daily at Cleveland Air Races, giving first public demonstrations of mass parachute drops. Also participated in first display of airplane glider tow; glider flown by Captain Frank Hawks.

November 1929: With copilot Bobbie Trout, set first women's refueling record of 42 1/2 hours over Los Angeles

March 1930: Set women's world altitude record of 27,418 feet in Bellanca Pacemaker over Roosevelt Field. Was first woman line test pilot for Fairchild Aviation Corporation and Bellanca Corporation. 

May 1930: At 18, was youngest pilot (male or female) granted Transport License by U.S. Department ofCommerce.

October 1930: Voted best Woman Pilot in the United States (over Amelia Earhart, Major Jimmy Doolittle named Best Male Pilot)

March 1931: Increased women's world altitude record to 34,500 feet in Bellanca Skyrocket monoplane at Roosevelt Field. 

[notes in right margin]
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[[Hause? Gereck?]] Hattie Meyers (Mrs. R.S. Barnaby - (Lt. Bureau Aeronautics - 1929 - Wash. D.C - divorcee 1934 [[??]]