Ruth Elder, Miss America of Aviation Ruth Elder was an aviation pioneer and actress. She held a private pilot’s certificate and was a charter member of the Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots. Determined to be the first woman to attempt a transatlantic flight, Elder faced ridicule from critics and others upon announcing her intentions. Many dismissed her plan as a publicity stunt, spurred by Charles Lindbergh’s success and aimed at boosting her acting career. While there was some truth to this, the publicity generated by her announcement did provide valuable exposure for her. In October 1927, Elder took off from New York, aspiring to become the first woman transatlantic pilot. The ocean crossing she faced was challenging; although she was the first woman to attempt the flight from the United States to Europe, she was not the first to successfully complete it. About an hour after take-off, her aircraft encountered a storm that drove them off their intended course. Due to mechanical issues, she was forced to ditch the plane but managed to establish a new over-water endurance flight record of 2,623 miles. At that time, this was also the longest flight ever made by a woman. After being rescued by a ship, Elder was honoured with a ticker-tape parade upon her return. Following her transatlantic flight attempt, Miss Elder moved to California, where she appeared in two silent films for an aircraft company. As a side note, in the 1950s, Elder worked as a secretary for Howard Hughes, another famous aviator.