Tuesday, March 28, 2023
The Emmy™Award-Winning Documentary Film
"Broadcast" version now airing on most public television stations.
"Uncensored" version now on DVD and in film festivals.
Synopsis: A charismatic figure featured in Tom Wolfe's book The Right Stuff, Florence "Pancho" Barnes was one of the most important women in 20th Century aviation. A tough and fearless aviatrix, Pancho was a rival of Amelia Earhart's who made a name for herself as Hollywood's first female stunt pilot. Just before WWII she opened a ranch near Edwards Air Force Base that became a famous -- some would say notorious -- hangout for test pilots and movie stars. Known as the "Happy Bottom Riding Club", it became the epicenter of the aviation world during the early jet age. Chuck Yeager celebrated breaking the sound barrier there in 1947, and Howard Hughes and Jimmy Doolittle caroused in the bar. The Club's destruction by fire in 1953 is seen by many to mark the end of a Golden Era in post-WWII aviation. In the same fashion Pancho herself has become something of a legend, a fascinating yet enigmatic icon whose swagger is often celebrated, but whose story has been largely unknown. Until now.
A documentary film produced and written by Nick Spark and directed by Amanda Pope. Featuring interviews with test pilots Bob Cardenas, Bob Hoover and Chuck Yeager, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and biographers Barbara Schultz and Lauren Kessler. Narrated by Tom Skerritt with Kathy Bates as the voice of Pancho Barnes.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 August 2015 04:31 Nick Spark Hits: 2867
So, owing to a personal debt, Pancho lost her "Mystery Ship" to her friend and one-time colleague, Paul Mantz. The "king of the stunt pilots" used the plane extensively in the 30's. We've even found some motion picture footage of it flying in the 1934 Los Angeles Air Races, presumably with Mantz at the controls. In 1939, Mantz rebuilt the plane in an attempt to break Tex Rankin's outside loop record. According to aviation writer Don Dwiggins, Mantz doubled the number of ground wires and added a 330-hp Wright Whirlwind specially equipped to allow inverted flight. Mantz never made the attempt, and the plane ended up sitting in a lonely corner, unused and in disrepair. Eventually the plane became part of the "Movieland of the Air Museum" which Mantz formed with another famous stunter and friend of Pancho's, Frank Tallman.
In 1965, Mantz came out of retirement to film stunts for the epic film "The Flight of the Phoenix". After performing a successful low level pass in front of the cameras, Mantz came around for a second pass. His kitbashed airplane hit a small hillock, went out of control and crashed, and Mantz was killed. It was an unexpected, awful turn of events.
In the aftermath of Mantz' death, Tallman decided to sell off many of the historic aircraft in the Museum, including the Mystery Ship, a P-40E Kittyhawk, a Sopwith Camel, a Curtiss 1A Gulfhawk, and a replica Ryan B-1. The auction got considerable attention worldwide, since it was filled with special planes. One of the most desireable, of course, was the Mystery Ship. By now, however, the plane was a shadow of its former self. A dusty, faded aircraft, it needed a lot of work before it would ever be flight worthy (see photo).
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