Ruth Blaney Alexander (May 18, 1905 – September 18, 1930) was an early American female pilot who set several records in altitude and distance in 1929 and 1930.

Her instruction began on September 9, 1929, at Ryan Field (Dutch Flats), the same airport from which Charles Lindbergh had used to start his journey in the Spirit of St. Louis in 1927.

[7] Less than 24 hours after attaining her license, Alexander took off from Ryan Field on November 18 in a Great Lakes biplane and continued climbing to what she believed was an altitude of better than 18,000 feet (5,500 m) over the skies of San Diego.

This was later recognized as a new official world record altitude for women in light planes of 15,718 feet (4,791 m), generating considerable fame not only for herself but also for San Diego and the Ryan Flying School.

She was hailed as a local hero and honored with a special banquet by the San Diego Chamber of Commerce on November 22, and met with Mayor Harry C.

After the lunch, Alexander was flown in a Ford Trimotor around the Bay area and offered the chance to pilot the aircraft, reportedly becoming the third woman in the US to do so.

However, shortly thereafter, Anne Morrow Lindbergh visited San Diego and took instruction from Bowlus, becoming the first woman to receive a first-class glider license in the US.

She was a charter member of the Anne Lindbergh Gliders Club of San Diego and joined the Ninety-Nines organization of women pilots.

After briefly losing consciousness at extreme altitudes despite using an oxygen tube, she established a new world record for light planes (for both men and women) of 26,600 feet (8,100 m).

[20] In July 1930, Alexander proposed to fly from Mexico to Canada via the U.S. – a "three flags flight" along the west coast air route.

The return leg on August 31 started at roughly 3:20 a.m. from Vancouver and concluded back at Agua Caliente at 7:15 p.m. for a total flight time of 15 hours, 54 minutes, 30 seconds.

Topped off with fuel, she once again took off at 3:28 a.m. from Lindbergh Field, but she entered low clouds and fog, is believed to have tip stalled,[clarification needed] and crashed at Plumosa Park in Loma Portal, San Diego just west of the airport.