In 1942 Eleanor Ashbaugh was one of the youngest solo pilots in Pennsylvania. She was taught by her father, Elmer Ashbaugh, a pioneer pilot. He flew airmail on the wings of a biplane, and started an airline in Florida in 1936 with a Ford Trimotor, competing with National Airlines.

Eleanor earned a commercial pilot's license, flew passengers on sight-seeing flights, and won a Powder Puff Derby, a cross-country air race from Pittsburgh, at the age of 21. She was one of six entrants in the 1946 Derby which was flown from Bettis Airport to Latrobe, both in Pennsylvania, and back

In 1953 she won first place in a national contest for educational leadership in aviation, and was an honored guest at the golden anniversary of powered flight at the Statler Hotel in Washington, D.C. She was flown to the 50th anniversary celebration in a U.S. officer's plane. In attendance were celebrities such as President Eisenhower, James Doolittle, Chuck Yeager, and Arthur Godfrey. She was given an all expense paid tour of a week's anniversary events.

Although she applied, she was fortunate not to have been the winning applicant for the ill-fated space shuttle Challenge "Teacher in Space Flight."

She was cited in a 2001 article for her contributions in the fields of education and aviation. She was particularly active in efforts to educate young people, and was the co-author of "Aerospace Projects for the Elementary School," published by the University of Miami.

She is a retired teacher in Naples, Florida, and would love to be a guest at the 100th Anniversary of Flight celebration. Many of the 50th anniversary guests are no longer living. She is a long time supporter of the National Air and Space Museum.

[Editor's note: Additional material is in the National Air and Space Society files.]