Fran Bera (December 7, 1924[1] in Mulliken, Michigan[2] – February 10, 2018),[3] was an American female aviator and record setting pilot. She is the first woman to fly a helicopter with no tail rotor.[4]
Fran was a CFII for over 50 years and administered over 3,000 check ride exams for new pilots and advanced rated pilots. She primarily flew fixed wing and helicopters through much of her life, and later flew her pink and white (with “Kick Ass” printed under the tail section) Piper Comanche, PA 24 – 260, single engine, for the remainder of her life. She stopped logging her flight hours after 25,000.
Records and recognitionedit
Fran held many air racing records, and a record for the highest altitude in a normally aspirated aircraft (40,154+ feet in a Piper Aztec). Her list of accomplishments is numerous. She won numerous All-Women's Transcontinental Air Races (commonly known as the Powder Puff Derby) in the 1950s.[5] Some of the awards she received include The Elder Statesmen Award for Aviation, presented to her in Washington, D.C. by former Senator Bob Dole, The Katharine Wright Award for over 50 years in aviation with no aviation accidents or incidents presented by the F.A.A., Women In Aviation (WIA) award for outstanding female aviator, inducted in the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2006, and the San Diego Air & Space Museum Hall of Fame (2007), just to name a few.
^ abcSlotnik, Daniel E. (12 April 2018). "Fran Bera, Competitive, Record-Breaking Aviator, Is Dead at 93". The New York Times. p. A28. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
^. San Diego Ninety-Nines. Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
^Rowley, Betty (February 1999). "99 Fran Bera has done it all and she just keeps on going and going and going". 99 NEWS MAGAZINE. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
fran, bera, december, 1924, mulliken, michigan, february, 2018, american, female, aviator, record, setting, pilot, first, woman, helicopter, with, tail, rotor, left, borndecember, 1924mulliken, michigandiedfebruary, 2018nationalityamericanknown, forhighest, al. Fran Bera December 7 1924 1 in Mulliken Michigan 2 February 10 2018 3 was an American female aviator and record setting pilot She is the first woman to fly a helicopter with no tail rotor 4 Fran BeraFran Bera left BornDecember 7 1924Mulliken MichiganDiedFebruary 10 2018NationalityAmericanKnown forhighest altitudeAwardsThe Elder Statesmen Award for Aviation Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Records and recognition 4 References 5 BibliographyEarly life editFrances Sebastian was born in 1924 to Hungarian immigrant farmers in Mulliken Michigan the youngest of eight children 2 She graduated from high school in Lake Odessa Michigan but was then rejected from the Women Airforce Service Pilots due to her height 2 Career editFran was a CFII for over 50 years and administered over 3 000 check ride exams for new pilots and advanced rated pilots She primarily flew fixed wing and helicopters through much of her life and later flew her pink and white with Kick Ass printed under the tail section Piper Comanche PA 24 260 single engine for the remainder of her life She stopped logging her flight hours after 25 000 Records and recognition editFran held many air racing records and a record for the highest altitude in a normally aspirated aircraft 40 154 feet in a Piper Aztec Her list of accomplishments is numerous She won numerous All Women s Transcontinental Air Races commonly known as the Powder Puff Derby in the 1950s 5 Some of the awards she received include The Elder Statesmen Award for Aviation presented to her in Washington D C by former Senator Bob Dole The Katharine Wright Award for over 50 years in aviation with no aviation accidents or incidents presented by the F A A Women In Aviation WIA award for outstanding female aviator inducted in the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2006 and the San Diego Air amp Space Museum Hall of Fame 2007 just to name a few In 2007 Bera was inducted into the International Air amp Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air amp Space Museum 6 References edit Welch 1998 p 18 a b c Slotnik Daniel E 12 April 2018 Fran Bera Competitive Record Breaking Aviator Is Dead at 93 The New York Times p A28 Retrieved 16 April 2018 SD99s History San Diego Ninety Nines Archived from the original on 3 March 2018 Retrieved 3 March 2018 Rowley Betty February 1999 99 Fran Bera has done it all and she just keeps on going and going and going 99 NEWS MAGAZINE Retrieved 7 October 2016 AWTAR 1951 race Sprekelmeyer Linda editor These We Honor The International Aerospace Hall of Fame Donning Co Publishers 2006 ISBN 978 1 57864 397 4 Bibliography editWelch Rosanne 1998 Encyclopedia of Women in Aviation and Space ABC CLIO ISBN 978 0 87436 958 8 nbsp This biographical article related to aviation is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fran Bera amp oldid 1204324639, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
