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News from Beechcraft
BEECH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION  Public Relations Department WICHITA, KANSAS, U.S.A

Photo No. BL 12607

May 16, 1956
CUBA's FIRST LICENSED WOMAN PILOT, Mrs.G.S. de Bustamente, is pictured with her husband at Beech Field this week where the couple paused during a flying tour of the United States to renew a long friendship with Mrs. O.A. Beech, President of Beech Aircraft Corporation. One of the island republic's most ardent aviation enthusiast, Mrs. de Bustamente won her wings in 1939, becoming the first woman in Cuba to earn a pilot's license. She still spends many hours in the air each year as navigator and co-pilot for her husband during frequent business and pleasure trips in the family's single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza.De Bustamente, Beechcraft's export distributor in Cuba and a prominent Havana attorney, learned to fly 25 years ago, although his interest in aviation dates back to 1928 when he formed Cuba's first commercial air transport company. He is also a former member of the Cuban Aviation Commission and helped write the country's civil air regulations. The couple's present visit to the U.S. began late last month when they flew to Phoenix, Arizona, for the annual convention of the Sportsman Pilots Association, of which de Bustamente is vice president. While in Wichita the de Bustamente were guest of Mrs.Beech at the Beechcraft factory and at a dinner party given in their honor. Mrs. de Bustamente foresees a bright future for business flying in Cuba, especially since airplanes are ideally suited to serve isolated sugar plantations scattered throughout the island. The de Bustamentes started the return flight to their Havana home on Wednesday.