Rinehart grew up in Long Beach, California in a family of aviators.
[1] Rinehart's mother, Barbara London, was a Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP).
[2] Rinehart graduated from San Jose State University (SJSU) in 1974.
[4] At the time, she was one of 10 women who worked as pilots in airlines based in the United States.
[4] She went on to fly as a captain for Delta Air Lines after it purchased Western Airlines.