Palm Springs’ Flying Grandmother: The Daring Legacy of Zaddie Bunker

In celebration of Women’s History Month, NBC Palm Springs is recognizing remarkable women who helped shape the Coachella Valley. Tonight’s Desert in a Minute segment with historian Steve Sumrall spotlights a fearless trailblazer known affectionately as “Palm Springs’ Flying Grandmother.”

Her name was Zaddie Bunker. She arrived in the area in 1913 with her husband Ed and their daughter. Seeing opportunity in the early days of transportation, the Bunkers opened Bunker’s Garage—the first automotive repair shop in the Valley. At the time, there were just three cars in the entire region. But Zaddie had vision. She knew the newly paved highway from Banning to Indio would bring growth—and she was right.

Zaddie went on to become one of the Coachella Valley’s most successful landowners. But she wasn’t done breaking boundaries. At the age of 60, despite her family’s concerns, she learned to fly. By 65, she was a licensed pilot competing in air races and even flying cross-country to promote California and Palm Springs at the request of the governor.

Her most daring feat came at age 72, when she piloted an F-100 Super Sabre jet and broke the sound barrier.

Zaddie Bunker’s legacy is one of vision, courage, and determination—proof that age and gender are no match for ambition.

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