Working as a restaurant waitress but eager to fly in an airplane, in 1921 Lillian Boyer was invited by two restaurant customers to take an airplane ride. On her second flight, she climbed out on the wing thus beginning her career as an aerial performer. In December 1921, she began five months of training with pilot Lt.
Billy Brock, former
World War I pilot and
barnstormer. She performed daring stunts and achieved great public acclaim. She was the first woman to change from a speeding automobile to an airplane. According to a 1922 Milwaukee newspaper, she was "without doubt the greatest thrill-producer since the days of the gladiators.” In 1929, due to federal regulations on low flying and unsafe planes, she and many other barnstormers were forced into retirement. Her performances included 352 shows in 41 US states and Canada, most of them consisting of wing-walking; 143 automobile-to-plane changes; and 37 parachute jumps (13 of which were done into
Lake Erie). == Later life ==