January 2, 1929 Bobbi Trout set of on an endurance flight that would last 12 hours 11 minutes, beating Viola Gentry’s women’s record, set the previous December. Three weeks later, Elinor Smith answered Trout’s challenge, flying 13 1/2 hours. Trout, Gentry and Smith continued to duel through the spring, with Elinor Smith claiming victory in April when she flew for 26 1/2 hours.
