Amelia Earhart:
First Women to Fly Solo Across the Atlantic
Amelia Earhart affected our society and daily lives through the knowledge and interest she had for planes. She saved most of her money so she was able to fly (during this era few women flew). She showed people that it was important to get an education in something one is passionate about. She was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic as a passenger, long before she was the first woman to pilot a plane across the ocean. Earhart set a goal, for herself, to be the first woman to pilot a plane across the Atlantic,and stuck with it until it was achieved in 1932. In 1937, Amelia attempted to become the first woman to fly around the world. The flight wasn't successful, making her a mysterious legend, but her dream and example as a female pilot showed that women can succeed in a "man's" world.
"My ambition is to have this wonderful gift produce practical results for the future of commercial flying and for the women who may want to fly tomorrow's planes." ~Earhart
Important Facts
| 1897 | Amelia Mary Earhart is born in Atchison, Kansas |
| 1917 | Volunteers as a nurse at Spadina Military Convalescent Hospital in Toronto, Canada, for the "walking wounded" of World War One |
| 1919 | Enrolls in the pre-med program of Columbia University, New York |
| 1920 | Takes her first flight |
| 1921 | Purchases her first aircraft - the Kinner Airster |
| 1928 | Recognized as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger |
| 1930 | Sets the women's world flying speed record of 181.18 mph |
| 1932 | Becomes the first woman (and second person) to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in her single engine Lockheed Vega and the first person to cross the Atlantic twice by air |
| 1935 | Named America's Outstanding Airwoman by Harmon Trophy committee |
| 1937 | --Ground loops plane while taking off from Hawaii for Howland Island and badly damages it --Airplane is repaired and a second round-the-world attempt is started from Miami, Florida --Disappears near Howland Island July 2 |
Copyright: Kara Shilalie; 02/08