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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
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Key Takeaways:

  • Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter began her career promoting commercial air travel at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, later becoming a commercially licensed pilot and working for companies like Piper Aircraft and Elano Corporation.
  • She and her husband, Ervin J. Nutter, were founding members of the National Aviation Hall of Fame and significant philanthropists, donating millions to aviation causes.
  • Recognized as a Living Legend of Aviation, Zoe Dell passed away at 104, leaving a profound legacy as a pioneer, maverick, and innovator within the aviation community.
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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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