Bobbi Trout facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bobbi Trout
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Portrait of "Bobbi" Trout
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| Born | January 7, 1906 |
| Died | January 24, 2003 (aged 97) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | First woman to set the first non-refueling endurance record for women |
| Aviation career | |
| Full name | Evelyn Trout |
| First flight | December 27, 1922 Curtiss JN-4 |
| Famous flights | Non-refueling endurance record for women (1929), Powder Puff Derby |
| Flight license | September 1, 1928 |
Evelyn "Bobbi" Trout (January 7, 1906 – January 24, 2003) was an early American aviator. She was famous for setting many flying records. Bobbi started her flying journey when she was 16 years old.
She made her first solo flight on April 30, 1928. Her mother bought her an International K-6 biplane that same year. Bobbi got her official pilot's card on September 1, 1928. In 1929, she became the second woman to break the record for flying the longest without stopping for fuel. She flew for 12 hours straight from California! This record was special because new rules said records had to be broken by a full hour. Bobbi also took part in the 1929 Women's Air Derby, which was nicknamed the "Powder Puff Derby." She was the last living participant of that first race. Her nickname "Bobbi" came from her short "Bob" haircut, like the actress Irene Castle had.
Early Life and First Flights
Bobbi Trout was born in Greenup, Illinois, on January 7, 1906. Her parents were Lola and George Trout. One day in 1918, when she was 12, Bobbi heard an airplane fly over her home. This made her very interested in flying.
In 1920, Bobbi and her family moved to California. They bought a service station there. One day, Bobbi told a customer, W.E. Thomas, about her dream to fly. It turned out Mr. Thomas owned a Curtiss JN-4 airplane! He offered Bobbi a ride, and she accepted. Her first flight was on December 27, 1922, from Rogers Airport in west Los Angeles.
Bobbi saved about $2,500 to go to flying school. She started at Burdett Fuller’s flying school on January 1, 1928. During one lesson, her plane spun out of control and crashed. But this accident did not stop Bobbi! She completed her first solo flight on April 30, 1928, and got her solo flying certificate.
Amazing Aviation Career
After getting her pilot's license, Bobbi Trout flew a Golden Eagle plane. She flew it at the Metropolitan Airport in Los Angeles on December 14, 1928. This was for an official dedication ceremony.
Just a few weeks later, on January 2, 1929, Bobbi flew from the same airport for 12 hours and 11 minutes. This broke the old record by more than 4 hours! But her record didn't last long. Another pilot, Elinor Smith, broke it on January 30, 1929. Elinor flew for 13 and a half hours.
Bobbi was determined to get the record back. On February 10, 1929, she flew from Mines Field. This time, she stayed in the air for more than 17 hours! This flight set two records: the first all-night flight by a woman and a new women's solo endurance record.
Later that year, on June 16, Bobbi flew a Golden Eagle Chief plane to a height of 15,200 feet (4,600 m). This broke the altitude record for light aircraft. She then changed the plane to have a more powerful engine. Bobbi flew this plane from Clover Field in Santa Monica, California to the first Women's Transcontinental Air Derby. Other famous women pilots, like Amelia Earhart, were also in this race.
During the nine-day race, the pilots had trouble finding their way using road maps. Bobbi, Amelia Earhart, and the other women pilots worked together. This experience led to the creation of the Ninety-Nines: International Organization of Women Pilots. This group helps women pilots around the world.
To get more support, Bobbi asked actress Edna Mae Cooper to join her for another endurance flight. Their first try on January 1, 1931, had to be stopped because of plane problems. But their next attempt was a success! They flew for an amazing 122 hours and 50 minutes. They only stopped because they ran out of fuel. This incredible flight was later recognized by King Carol II of Romania. He gave Bobbi a special award for pilots who set record flights. Only two other famous pilots, Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh, had received this award.
Later Life
Bobbi Trout celebrated her 80th birthday in a unique way. On January 7, 1986, she gave an interview from inside a helicopter flying over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. In May of that same year, she was honored at the Gathering of Eagles Program at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.
In 1999, Bobbi was recognized as the only living person who had taken part in the very first Women's Air Derby of 1929. Bobbi Trout lived in San Diego, California in her later years. She passed away on January 24, 2003. She never married. She is remembered by her sister-in-law Hazel Trout and her nephew Brook Trout.
Images for kids
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Portrait of "Bobbi" Trout
