BESSICA MEDLAR RAICHE 1875-1932

 

Bessica Medlar Raiche Portrait You can see a very nice portrait of Ms. Raiche on Russell Naughton's website by clicking on: Portrait

 

PIONEER WOMEN FLYERS      Women , too, went on the exhibition circuit, and their sex lent added attraction to the shows. As well known as that of any man were the names of Matilde Moisant, whose brothers pioneered the barnstorming tour, and of Harriet Quimby, her frequent teammate and the first woman in America to receive a pilot's license.      The first solo flight by a woman is credited to Blanche Stuart Scott --described as "an attractive and well-built aviatrix"--of Rochester, New York, made on a Curtiss-type machine on September 2, 1910. (See "First Solo Flight" Note Below)      Bessica Raiche, whose husband Francois was the builder of an experimental biplane for the Aeronautical Society of New York, is also reported to have flown in September 1910.      Others who became licensed pilots, and, especially after 1914, achieved a permanent place in the records of the pioneers were Katherine Stinson, who used a Wright biplane and motor to gain a certificate on July 12, 1912 and Ruth Law, who took hers on November 12, 1912, with a Curtiss biplane and motor. Both of these were star exhibition flyers. From THE PHILADELPHIA RECORD feature entitled "WHEN FAIR FOLKS FLY." Sunday, August 3, 1919

 

FIRST SOLO FLIGHT via email from Dave Lam, 4-12-06 Ralph,      On the Bessica Raiche page, you note that: "The first solo flight by a woman is credited to Blanche Stuart Scott --described as "an attractive and well-built aviatrix"--of Rochester, New York, made on a Curtiss-type machine on September 2, 1910. "      This is absolutely not true!! By that time, several women in Europe already had their pilot's licenses. Therese Peltier was probably the first woman in the world to solo, but never went on to get her license. Raiche may have been the first woman in America to solo, but let's keep the honors where they belong. Dave

 

First Smash-Up of Aeroplane by Woman (in the USA) Takes Place at Aviation Grounds at Minneola, Very Slightly Hurt The Knoxville Sentinel, Knoxville, Tenn., Friday Evening, September 16, 1910, page 1, Transcribed by Bob Davis - 3-30-06 Mineola, L.I., Sept. 16. - Mrs. Raische, wife of the head of an aeroplane company, had the distinction today to figure in the first aeroplane smash-up engineered by a woman at the aviation grounds here and possibly in the country.       Mrs. Raische came out on the field this morning for an initial trial, which with beginners, consists of what is known as "grass cutting" or skimming the field. She had gone perhaps a mile when suddenly she ran into a depression and came to grief.       The nose of the machine was jammed into the ground. Mrs. Raische was thrown out, the machine falling on top of her. She scrambled out from under the wreck and ran, limping somewhat, to shut off her motor, which was still running at full speed. The machine was damaged.

 

ONLINE RESOURCES      If you search for "Bessica Raiche", using the Google search engine, (9-25-05), you will find about 167 links. A good place to start is the following.

 

Bessica Medlar Raiche      This online resource, which was assembled by Dr. Russell Naughton, offers a number of links to online sources of information on her life and career. It even includes a portrait of her which was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. You can access the site by clicking on the title above.

 

MATILDE MOISANT - EARLY BIRD AVIATOR      This article by Steve Remington is the definitive online source of information on the life and career of Matilde Moisant. Included in the comprehensive resumé are references to Bessica's exploits and you will find two, wonderful photographs of her, on a beautiful portrait and the other showing her in her aeroplane. You can access the site by clicking on the title above. You may want to use the FIND function on "Bessica" to locate her entry.

 

RAICHE      This page on K.O. Ecklund's definitive resource, AEROFILES, offers a brief, but fascinating history of the building of their first plane by Newlyweds Francois and Bessica Raiche. You can access the site by clicking on the title above.

 

Bessica Raiche died on April 9, 1932 personal communication from Marge Bitetti, 10-19-05   Editor's Note: If you have any more information on this Early Bird, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper   Back