Border Air Museum - Preparing the pilotage landmarks from Phoenix to Douglas, AZ 

Phoenix, Arizona | Derby Skies Field Report | October 2026

In August 1929, twenty courageous women aviators set out from Santa Monica, California, determined to prove that women belonged in the skies. Their destination was Cleveland, Ohio, and their journey would take them across deserts, mountains, plains, and some of America's most challenging flying terrain.

On August 19, the Women's Air Derby arrived in Phoenix, Arizona, where the pilots received a warm welcome at one of the city's newest landmarks: the magnificent Westward Ho Hotel.

Opened in December 1928, the 16-story Westward Ho was the tallest building in Arizona and a symbol of Phoenix's growing prosperity. Its grand architecture and elegant surroundings offered a dramatic contrast to the dusty airfields and demanding flying conditions the competitors encountered along the route.

Among the celebrated aviators were Amelia Earhart, Louise Thaden, Ruth Elder, and Florence "Pancho" Barnes. The women were honored at a reception and dinner at the hotel, where they received Navajo thunderbird pins commemorating their visit.

But behind the celebrations was the reality of a dangerous race. The pilots were flying aircraft with limited instrumentation, relying on maps, compasses, and landmarks to navigate unfamiliar territory. The Arizona desert presented particularly unforgiving conditions.

The following day, the competitors continued east toward Douglas, Arizona, another important stop on their journey to Cleveland.

Nearly a century later, the Westward Ho still stands at 618 North Central Avenue in downtown Phoenix. Although it no longer operates as a hotel, the building remains a tangible connection to the remarkable women who helped change aviation history.

Retracing Their Flight

As part of the production of Derby Skies, we are visiting historic locations along the original 1929 race route, documenting surviving landmarks and exploring the places that welcomed these pioneering aviators.

Standing before the Westward Ho today offers a glimpse into the world these women experienced in 1929—a moment when aviation was transforming transportation, challenging expectations, and opening new possibilities for women.

Their journey was more than a race. It was a declaration that the sky belonged to everyone.

Derby Skies is a documentary film in development, exploring the courage, competition, and enduring legacy of the women of the 1929 Women's Air Derby.

Follow the Journey | www.derbyskies.com

Field Report | October 2026
Douglas, Arizona — Border Air Museum

In August 1929, twenty pioneering women pilots set out from Santa Monica, California, on a remarkable transcontinental race to Cleveland, Ohio. Among them were Amelia Earhart, Louise Thaden, Ruth Nichols, and other courageous aviators determined to prove that women belonged in the skies.

One of their important stops was Douglas, Arizona, a historic border town with a remarkable aviation legacy.

As part of the production of Derby Skies, we are retracing the original race route, exploring the landscapes, airports, and communities that welcomed these trailblazing women nearly a century ago.

In 1929, Douglas was home to one of America's most unusual airports. Situated along the U.S.–Mexico border, Douglas International Airport allowed aircraft to travel between the United States and Agua Prieta, Mexico, through a gate in the international boundary.

On August 20, 1929, the Women's Air Derby arrived in Douglas after a demanding flight across the Arizona desert. The pilots faced rugged mountains, unpredictable winds, extreme heat, and the challenges of navigating with paper charts and visual landmarks.

Their arrival brought an extraordinary chapter of aviation history to this small border community.

Our research visit includes the historic Douglas Municipal Airport and the Border Air Museum, which preserves the region's early aviation history.

The museum offers an important connection to the era when aviation was transforming transportation, international travel, and opportunities for women.

For Derby Skies, this visit is an opportunity to explore the historic airfield, photograph surviving landmarks, research the Derby's arrival, and document the landscape that greeted the women in 1929.

One of the most exciting aspects of this project is the opportunity to return to the skies above Arizona and experience portions of the original race route.

Flying across the same desert terrain provides a new appreciation for the skill, determination, and courage required of the 1929 competitors. Without GPS, modern weather technology, or today's sophisticated navigation systems, these women relied on their charts, instruments, instincts, and the terrain below.