Starting in 1940, Dot began her flying at the Asheville Airport (really Hendersonville) under the instruction of (mostly) Oscar Meyer who signed her logbook throughout most of her initial instruction. Also signing this, her first logbook, was the legendary American ace from WWI, Eddie Richenbacher, who did so on a visit to Asheville.

On her first solo, she was the only pilot on the field, it having been raining for some time, and because her instructor told she was ready to solo, Dot took it upon herself to make that happen, getting the field hand to get the airplane out of the hangar, then off she went, for all of 4 minutes! She says she didn't think there was anything wrong with soloing by herself, but for some reason, she thought it prudent not to do it very long, or she might get caught! This strict adherence to the accepted rules would follow her all her life.

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