Pancho Barnes

Florence Lowe Barnes, born Florence Leontine Lowe but known as Pancho Barnes for most of her life, was a pioneer of women's aviation and the owner of the celebrated Happy Bottom Riding Club located on land annexed into Edwards Air Force Base in southern California's Antelope Valley in the southwestern United States.

Death and her life's remnants

Pancho was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Antelope Valley Aero Museum's annual "Barnstormers Reunion" on April 5, 1975. However, when a friend called on March 30, she could not reach Pancho. When Pancho's son Bill went to investigate, he found Pancho dead in her home. The coroner determined that she had died of a heart attack several days earlier.

Related Topics:
Antelope Valley Aero Museum - April 5 - 1975 - March 30

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Her fourth husband "Mac" McKendry survived her for many years and continued to live in Cantil.

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Son Bill Barnes died piloting a P-51 Mustang flying near the site of the Happy Bottom Riding Club in October, 1980. His mother Pancho founded in 1940 Barnes Aviation of Lancaster which Bill operated in his adult years. It is still in the general aviation business today.

Related Topics:
P-51 Mustang - 1980 - 1940 - Lancaster

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Her life and personality were portrayed in the 1983 epic film The Right Stuff adapted from Tom Wolfe's bestselling novel of the same name. Kim Stanley played Pancho Barnes in the film which documented - as far as the history of early Space Flight goes - "How the Future Began."

Related Topics:
1983 - The Right Stuff - Tom Wolfe - Kim Stanley - History of early Space Flight

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Pancho's Mystery Ship remains today in a hangar at Mojave Airport where it is slowly being restored.

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Her Happy Bottom Riding Club site is today the location for the annual Edwards Air Force Base Pancho Barnes Day celebration (established in 1980). A barbeque is held and drinks are served, along with dancing and live music to honor the remembrance of this aviation pioneer and friend. . . way into the night, just like in the old days when Pancho was there with her many friends.

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