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Pilot, Philanthropist Zoe Dell Nutter Served Aviation For Decades

Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter traveled across the U.S. in the late 1930s promoting commercial aviation on United’s DC-3s. Courtesy of Special Collections & Archives, Wright State University
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Zoe Dell Lantis began her aviation career promoting commercial air travel at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, delivering invitations in United Airlines DC-3s.
  • She became an accomplished pilot, earning her commercial certificate with multiengine and instrument ratings, and worked for Piper Aircraft and Elano Corporation's small aircraft division.
  • Alongside her husband Ervin J. Nutter, she was a founding member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame and a significant philanthropist, donating millions to aviation causes.
  • Honored as a Living Legend of Aviation, Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter was celebrated as a pioneer, maverick, and innovator, passing away at the age of 104.
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Zoe Dell Lantis grabbed the opportunity to work as an exhibition girl at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco in 1939—which celebrated the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge just six months prior. Lantis was a 20-year-old dancer looking to expand her horizons, and she did just that, joining an aerial promotional tour that would cross the country demonstrating the wonders—and safety and reliability—of commercial air travel. Specifically, Lantis delivered invitations to San Francisco’s “world fair” in United Airlines’ shiny new Douglas DC-3s.

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