Bernardine King earned a reputation as an air queen. Her achievements and records stamp her as a unique aviatrix. Raised in the New Mexico Rockies, she grew up as a typical Western girl. Her friends knew her as the flying cowgirl because of her interest in cattle.
Bernardine saw her first airplane when she was eight years old. Since then, aviation became her main interest. She even used an airplane to round up wild horses.
Bernardine King’s flying career
Bernardine King flew Wacos, Lincolns, and J-5 Eaglerocks during her flight training. As a result, she received her pilot license in January 1935. She then participated in a three-week goodwill tour of seven western states. The tour, partly sponsored by state and city officials, promoted aviation. Snow, rain, fierce winds, and fog gave her more experience with weather conditions
Undoubtedly, Bernardine’s most unusual feats were two inverted flights. One took place between Agua Caliente, Mexico and San Diego’s Lindbergh Field. The other occurred between Bellingham, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. Bernardine established the first official record for inverted flying in her biplane, Bernardine II. Her time marked 25 minutes and 26 seconds. Her final record stands at two hours and five seconds.
Many interesting experiences occurred while Bernardine King flew inverted. While going cross-country, the plane’s oil pressure dropped to zero. With nowhere to land, Bernardine rolled the plane over in a one-half roll onto its back. As she hoped, the oil pressure normalized. She continued on to the San Fernando Valley Airport and landed safely. Naturally, she landed right side up.
Bernardine took personal charge of highly modifying a standard Fleet. She needed an airplane in which she could fly inverted and perform smoke writing. She installed a stronger motor mount for a Kinner 165 hp motor. In addition, she adjusted the center of gravity by taking out the front seat. Extra tanks for chemicals, oil, and gas filled the empty space. Other modifications included a special exhaust manifold and a pump for the chemical tank.
Bernardine King used smoke writing as a publicity and advertising medium as well as in her aerial programs. She also used it to signal police and rescue crews. In addition, she alerted forest rangers if she spotted fires. By 1939, Bernardine was the only woman skywriter in the United States.
Bernardine King’s interest in aerobatics derived from executing precision maneuvers. She eventually included them in her professional aerial program. Amelia Earhart considered Bernardine the best feminine acrobatic flyer and “tops” in inverted flight.
Two Airplanes
Besides flying her aerobatic plane, Bernardine held a seaplane rating. This allowed her to set a world’s record for time, distance, and endurance over Seattle’s Lake Washington. Her additional tickets included land and seaplane commercial licenses, an instructor’s rating, and a third-class radio operator’s certificate. She owned a cabin Stinson along with her stunt plane. The Stinson’s front seat collapsed into a bed and transformed it into an aerial ambulance.
And one last activity – Bernardine was a member of Beth McQueen’s Women Aerial Police, patrolling the skies over Beverly Hills for low-flying pilots!
Bernardine King’s Reflections
“Admitting that the path has not been easy, Bernardine nevertheless finds herself in the enviable position of having proved that women can succeed in a field which is practically closed to them – and which is even hard for men to conquer for there are but six men in the United States who do the same kind of work than she does.” Popular Aviation, March 1939.