Apr 2010 Bette Bach Fineman (Arizona)
Bette Bach Fineman is based at Montezuma Airport (19AZ) Camp Verde, Arizona, and says she has owned a total of 14 airplanes, all but one a taildragger!
I flew right seat in taildraggers from 1957 to 1968, when I finally soloed my first Aeronca Champ. Â Got my license in 1970, graduated to a DeHavilland Tiger Moth in 1972 and have owned 14 airplanes (only one of which was not a taildragger), Â but no more than three at any one time!
Bette’s first Champ in 1968
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All six of my children flew before they were born. Â Both husbands were/are flight instructors who encouraged my career which has included aerial photography, flying formation for other photographers, ferrying antiques and classics across the country, running a Vermont soaring school with another single mother, editing aviation books and doing some of my own writing.
I published my book “Patterns: Tales of Flying and of Life” a couple of years ago. Â We live at a residential airpark, with my third Champ in the hangar, and just sold a Cessna 180. Sadly, recently retired from solo flight due to limited eyesight.
For more about Bette’s amazing life check out Winged Victory: Interview with Bette Bach Fineman
Julie H.
Posted at 22:43h, 29 DecemberGlad to see this re-post Judy! I spoke with Ann Pellegreno last week and she mentioned Bette’s book, ‘Patterns’, intrigued me enough to pick up a copy. -MAACFlygirl, Newsltr Editor, Midwest Antique Airplane Club
Phil Strunz
Posted at 09:14h, 17 AugustI don’t know if Bette is still alive. She and I must be about the same age. She stopped at the Watertown, WI airport after leaving EAA in Oshkosh somewhere around 1979 or 1980. She was very personable and took me for a ride in her Tiger Moth. I had no idea who she was! She sold that airplane in 1981. I still have a photo from that day.
Heiti Narma
Posted at 16:38h, 01 DecemberBette
My first biplane ride was in a Tiger Moth at Sugarbush…… somebody had stepped on and broken the battery terminal in the cockpit…. I soldered it back together for you …. And you took me for a flight….. there was a mad french canadien with a Pitts S2A in there somewhere…… later in life I was lucky enough to experience everything from DC-3s to FA-18s…… Who-Da-Thunk-It…??
Thank You
Heiti Narma
JULIAN CASTRO
Posted at 20:04h, 16 JulyHello Mrs Bette, I just call my wife and I said you’re not going to believe what just happened, thank you very much for responding, I am honored and still seems unbelievable to me that I communicate with those adventurous lady, I would be deeply pleased to continue talking to you.
Sincerely, Julian C.
Bette Bach Fineman
Posted at 15:06h, 16 JulyTo JULIAN in Bogata:
Yes, I am “The Girl From a Long Time Ago” in “Gift of Wings”. That indeed was a long time ago and I managed to log 3500 hours after that episode, before I had to retire from solo flight. I hope you get to see an antique airplane fly-in one day, somewhere in the world, before all the governments decree they not be flown anymore.
Regards, Bette
JULIAN CASTRO
Posted at 23:38h, 15 JulyGood evening Mrs Bette, I am Colombian and I live near to Bogota, actually I work in the Air Force as an avionics technician, excuse me for my english, I really love the aviation, when I saw you in this pictures, I thought: it can´t be, incredible, such coincidences are possible?, because I just started to read a chapter in a book of Richard Bach writer (El don de volar) in this part the author tells about a trip with his wife in a biplane, Mrs Bette, are you that wife?, if you are this woman, is a great coincidence, people like you inspire me, I dream one day see those classic aircraft in the fly-in they do in their country…have a nice day lady Bette.