Amelia Earhart – The First Female Pilot To Break Flying Records
Amelia Earhart was an American aviator and one of the greatest risk-takers of her time. She was a pioneering female pilot who became the first female aviator to cross more than 8,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. Earhart gained international fame for her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean and for setting a record for endurance and speed which remains unbroken today. She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and to receive recognition from the Unites States Congress for doing so. Earhart is remembered for her courage, determination and boldness.
Early Life
Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas. She was the first of two children to Edwin and Amy Earhart. Both of her parents were from wealthy, established Midwestern families. Earhart was an energetic child and performed well in school. At the age of 10, Earhart and her family moved to Des Moines, Iowa.
Earhart attended Hyde Park High School in Chicago and transferred to Ogontz School in Pennsylvania. She then went on to attend Columbia University in New York City, where she studied premedicine. After two years at Columbia, she moved to California and transferred to the University of Southern California, where she encountered an introductory aviation course, which sparked her fascination with flying.
Flying Carreer
Earhart started her aviation career after being persuaded to take an aviation course by her sister and her husband. She eventually joined the Ninety-Nines, a group of female pilots, and worked as a college physics instructor.
Her aviation career began in 1928 when Earhart became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger on a plane. In 1931, she set the world record for speed and endurance when she flew a Lockheed airplane solo. This made her the first female aviator to cross any body of water alone. She continued to set records and make achievements with her aviation career until her disappearance in 1937.
Famous Firsts
Amelia Earhart’s achievements as a female pilot are remarkable and include a number of firsts for women. Here are just a few of them:
• Earhart became the first female pilot in the United States to receive a Transport Pilot License from the U.S Department of Commerce in 1932.
• She was the first female to fly over the Atlantic Ocean in 1932.
• Earhart was the first female pilot to complete an around the world flight in 1937.
• She was the first female to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for setting a world speed record for a transcontinental flight in 1935.
• Earhart also became the first female pilot to cross the Pacific Ocean in 1936.
Tragic Disappearance
In 1937, Earhart and her navigational companion, Fred Noonan, set out to complete her famous around the world flight. On July 2, 1937, they left Miami, ( Florida) and attempted to fly a charted course over the Pacific Ocean towards California. During their journey, the plane went missing, and the radio signal was lost. The Navy launched a massive search and rescue mission to find the couple, but they were never seen again.
Earhart’s disappearance remains one of the most puzzling unsolved mysteries of the 20th century. Some believe that the plane crashed and sank into the Pacific Ocean near Howland Island, while others think that she was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese army.
Legacy
Despite her disappearance, Earhart continues to inspire many people to follow their dreams and pursue their passions. She is remembered for her fearlessness, courage and ambition. The Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship is awarded to female aviators, and is funded by the Ninety-Nines organization. Additionally, there are multiple statues of Earhart erected throughout the United States, as well as a US postage stamp commemorating her achievements.
Amelia Earhart blazed a trail as an aviator and an inspiration to female pilots around the world. Her legacy has endured through the decades despite her mysterious disappearance in 1937. Her achievements as a female pilot are still celebrated and remain a source of motivation for younger generations. Earhart continues to be an icon for female pilots and a source of inspiration for anyone who pursues challenging goals and dreams.
