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Amelia Mary Earhart – woman pilot

Amelia Mary Earhart – woman pilot

Amelia Mary Earhart – woman pilot

Amelia Mary Earhart was an American aviator. She is world’s best-known woman pilot. She was the first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean.
Amelia Mary Earhart Putnam was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas. Until she was 12 she lived with her wealthy maternal grandparents in Atcheson, Kansas.
In 1909 Amelia and her younger sister, Muriel, went to Des Moines, Iowa to live with their parents. In 1914 her mother took the girl and moved to Chicago, where Amelia graduated from Hyde Park School the following year.
Amelia was a volunteer nurse in a hospital for veterans in Toronto where she worked until 1918.
In the winter of 1920 Earhart saw her first air show and took her first airplane ride. She took lessons at Bert Kinner’s airfield. On December 15, 1921 she received her license from the National Aeronautics Association (NAA).

Earhart worked as a file clerk, office assistant, photographer, and truck driver. She saved money and bought her own plane. However, she had to sell it and buy a car.
In 1928 Earhart accepted an offer to join the crew of a flight across the Atlantic. On June 18-19, 1928 along with pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Louis Gordon, she crossed the Atlantic. Earhart became world-renowned as ‘‘the first woman to fly the Atlantic.’’ Her flight lasted 14 hours and 56 minutes.
In August 1929, Earhart participated in the first women’s air race California – Ohio.
On February 7, 1931 she married business partner George Putnam.
In 1932 she made fastest non-stop transcontinental flight by a woman.
In 1935 Amelia became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific from Hawaii to California.

Earhart - the first woman to fly across the Atlantic

Earhart – the first woman to fly across the Atlantic


In the same year, Earhart began working at the Purdue University’s faculty of aviation as a visiting teacher. She was also a member of the National Women’s Party.
In 1937 she set speed record for east-west crossing from Oakland to Honolulu.
Earhart acted as an advocate for commercial aviation and for women’s rights.
Earhart received the Distinguished Flying Cross; Cross of the Knight of the Legion of Honor, from the French Government; Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society; and the Harmon Trophy as America’s outstanding airwoman in 1932, 1933, 1934, and 1935.
She wrote several best-selling books about her flights and helped to create the Organization of Women Pilots and was elected its first President.
Amelia Earhart mysteriously disappeared during a round-the-world flight in 1937 and was never found.
Saturn’s moon Earhart named in her honor.
Amelia Earhart was one of the main characters of sci-fi movie Night at the Museum 2 (2009), where Amy Adams played the role.

Amelia Mary Earhart – woman pilot

First Lady of the Atlantic

First Lady of the Atlantic

Amelia Earhart - pioneer of aviation

Amelia Earhart – pioneer of aviation

Amelia with the heads of air and railway lines at startup of Boston-Marine Airways, 1933

Amelia with the heads of air and railway lines at startup of Boston-Marine Airways, 1933

Earhart - the first woman to fly across the Atlantic

Earhart – the first woman to fly across the Atlantic

First Lady of the Atlantic

First Lady of the Atlantic

Amelia Mary Earhart – woman pilot

Amelia Mary Earhart – woman pilot

Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan during the round the world flight, Brazil, June 1937

Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan during the round the world flight, Brazil, June 1937

Amelia and Lockheed L-10E Electra

Amelia and Lockheed L-10E Electra