Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2019 1:41:59 GMT -5
In the Thirties this Blackburn Bluebird has been flown by the Hon. Mrs. Victor Bruce (here taking off from former Heston Aerodrome).
Mildred Bruce (10 November 1895 – 21 May 1990) was a record-breaking motorist; speedboat racer; pioneering aviator and business woman. She enjoyed a privileged background that allowed her to search for thrills beyond many of her contemporaries.
She raced against the Brooklands greats, drove 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle and won the first ladies' prize at the Monte Carlo Rally. She learnt to fly and after gaining her pilot's licence flew solo around the World gaining a record as the first person to fly solo from the UK to Japan along the way. She survived several crashes and was once captured by Brigands becoming a much lauded aviation celebrity of her exploits.
It would take too much space to reproduce here her whole story. So have a look at Wikipedia link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs_Victor_Bruce. Her course is of life is really impressive.
I jusg would like to point out this: In April 1974, at age 78, she test-drove a Ford Capri Ghia at 110 miles per hour (180 km/h) at Thruxton circuit. At age 81, after a brief refresher course in flying, she performed a loop in a De Havilland Chipmunk. Really an exceptional woman which merits to become better known.
