Eula Pearl Carter Scott facts for kids

Eula "Pearl" Carter Scott (December 9, 1915 – March 28, 2005) was an amazing American pilot and a leader for her people. She became the youngest pilot in the United States on September 12, 1929. She was only 13 years old when she flew a plane by herself for the first time! A famous pilot named Wiley Post taught her how to fly. Later in her life, Pearl became a very important person in the Chickasaw Nation. She helped her community and was even elected to their government.

Pearl Carter Scott's Early Life

Pearl was born on December 9, 1915, in a town called Marlow, Oklahoma. She was the youngest of three girls and had a younger brother. Her father was a successful businessman. Her mother was a member of the Chickasaw Nation, which is a Native American tribe.

Pearl was not like other young girls her age. She got her own car when she was just eleven years old! By the time she was twelve, she knew how to drive it herself. Pearl later said that her father was blind, and she helped him by being his "eyes." She went everywhere with him, whether he was working in his office or collecting rent from farms. She spent her childhood talking with adults and learning a lot.

Flying High with Pearl

The famous pilot Wiley Post was a friend of Pearl's family. He would visit their home sometimes. In 1928, when Pearl was twelve, Wiley took her and her father for their first airplane ride. Pearl loved it! She knew right away that she wanted to fly.

"I knew right then, while I was in the air with Wiley that first day, that I would fly someday. I asked him a hundred questions while we were up in the air, and as soon as he set the plane down, I ran over and told Daddy that I wanted to learn to fly."

Wiley Post agreed to teach Pearl how to fly. After many lessons, her father surprised her with her very own airplane. It was a Curtiss Robin plane. On September 12, 1929, Pearl flew the plane by herself for the first time. This made her the youngest person in Oklahoma to fly solo at that time. Soon after, she started performing amazing tricks as a stunt pilot.

In 1931, Wiley Post flew to the local airport with another man. Pearl didn't know him at first. Then, Wiley introduced her to the world-famous entertainer Will Rogers.

Pearl's Devotion to Her Family

Pearl got married when she was 16 years old and soon started her own family. She kept flying after her first baby was born. But after her second baby arrived, she realized something important. She worried that if there was an accident while flying, her children might grow up without a mother. So, she decided to stop flying suddenly.

She only flew one more time after that. Wiley Post let her fly his famous plane, the "Winnie Mae." This was the plane he used to set two world records!

Serving the Chickasaw Nation

In 1972, Pearl started a new important part of her life. She began working actively for the Chickasaw Nation. After studying at a special training center, she became one of the tribe's first community health representatives. This meant she helped people in her community get the health care they needed.

In 1983, Pearl was elected to the Chickasaw Legislature. This is like being elected to a government body that makes laws for the Chickasaw people. She served three terms, helping to make important decisions for her tribe.

Recognizing Pearl's Achievements

Pearl Carter Scott received many honors for her amazing life. She was added to the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame. She is also a member of the International Women's Air & Space Museum and the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame. She is even a founding member of the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian. In 2014, a painting of her was put on display in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

There are also two films about her life. One is a documentary called Pearl Carter Scott: On Top of the World. The other is a movie simply titled Pearl.