A First Flight
Ninety-Nines’ charter member Achsa Donnels took her first plane ride in 1923. She and several friends from Fresno College were enjoying a picnic at what is now Roeding Park. Nearby, a couple of barnstormers were offering $5 rides in their Jenny airplane. Adventurous Achsa didn’t hesitate, and after her flight, knew she wanted to learn to fly. When her father discovered his daughter’s ‘foolish’ flying lessons, he put an end to them. Achsa reluctantly obeyed and looked for other vocations. “I decided on a musical career, playing for silent films in theaters and move to Los Angeles to study with a famed organist there. My timing wasn’t good. When I was ready for silent movies, they gave way to sound and I was out of a job.” With the death of her father, Achsa returned to her passion – flying.
Becoming a Pilot
Loxla Thorton, a well-respected pilot in the San Joaquin Valley, with an armless aviator. Undeterred, he successfully flew with his shoulder, a hook and thongs and taught Achsa Donnels to fly. Her future husband, Ross Peacock, owned a Jenny and Achsa added many pleasurable flight hours in the venerable JN4 until her father made it very apparent that he feared for her safety. She didn’t fly again until 1928, earning her private pilot license that year. In 1929, she became a charter member of the Ninety-Nines and later, an enthusiastic member of the Bakersfield, California chapter. By August, she possessed a Commercial license issued in Bakersfield, CA. This was followed by a transport license in 1931 and enabling her to fly passengers and instruct. She did this until June of 1933.
Flight Instructing
When her husband established the Cardiff and Peacock aviation in business on the Bakersfield Airport, Achsa assisted in fly instructing and charter flights. Soon, the business set up a second flying school in Salinas and Achsa spent many hours of flying between Fresno and Los Angeles, Salinas and Bakersfield. Reportedly Fresno’s first aviatrix, she was the first woman pilot to land and register at the Kern County Airport (now Meadows Field) in the spring of 1928 with her Waco 10 (#5463).
Bestowed an Honor
In 1990, Achsa Donnels received the Katherine B. Wright Memorial Trophy awarded annually at the International Convention of the Ninety-Nines, Inc. The award honors the sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright, an avid supporter of their pioneering achievements in aviation the recipient is a woman who has made a personal contribution to the advancement of the art, sport, and science of aviation and space flight over an extended period of time.