Who Was Bessie?

Bessica Raiche was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, and distinguished herself shortly after the turn of the 20th century as a Renaissance woman.

 

In addition to being an accomplished musician, painter, linguist and swimmer, Bessie also worked as a dentist and physician. However, her most impressive accomplishment came in 1910 when she was accredited by the Aeronautical Society as being the first woman to fly an airplane in a solo flight.  

 

Here’s the kicker — she had no flight instruction or experience before taking to the sky alone. She and her husband built their airplane in their living room and assembled it in the yard. She flew the biplane in 1910.