Introduction:
Amelia Earhart was a celebrated American aviation pioneer who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her courage, ambition, and determination inspired generations of aviation enthusiasts and earned her place in the history books. Despite her disappearance in 1937 during a flight around the world, Earhart remains a renowned figure of the twentieth century and an international icon for female empowerment. Here are 15 interesting facts about Amelia Earhart that will help you learn more about her legacy.
Fact 1: She was the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
On May 20th, 1932, Amelia Earhart took off from Harbour Grace in Newfoundland, Canada in her single-engine monoplane, the Lockheed Vega 5B. Flying through thin clouds and bitter cold, she completed the flight 19 hours and 40 minutes later, landing safely in northern Ireland. Earhart was the first female aviator to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a pilot and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for this feat.
Fact 2: Earhart set multiple records for aviation, including altitude and speed.
At the beginning of 1935, Earhart set the record for women’s highest altitude in an autogiro, attaining 18,415 ft in a Pitcairn PCA-2, and the record for the fastest speed ever attained in the US in an autogiro, which stands at 181.18 mph. Later that year, Earhart also set the world speed record for an autogiro with a flight speed of 203.21 mph. Additionally, she was the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the US mainland, tweeting “Cloudy but plenty of pep, Honolulu toOakland, 18 hrs, 15min, Poor visibility, evasive tactics, and finally somewhere.”
Fact 3: She was in the process of becoming the first woman to fly around the world when she disappeared.
On June 1, 1937, Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, left Miami, Florida on the first leg of the flight. They flew eastbound via South America, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and finally across the Pacific Ocean to the West Coast of the United States. On July 2, 1937, in the midst of their journey, they took off from New Guinea headed for Howland Island, yet the pair never arrived at their destination. Earhart is believed to have crashed into the ocean somewhere near Howland Island, although the exact location of her plane remains a mystery to this day.
Fact 4: The US Navy conducted the largest most expensive air and sea search in history, but Earhart was never found.
The massive US Navy search effort for Earhart spanned thousands of square miles and lasted over two weeks. It included both surface ships and aircraft, yet failed to turn up any clues as to her ultimate fate. Since then, subsequent searches have been conducted in the waters around Howland Island, but to no avail. Earhart is officially labeled as “missing in action” and her aircraft was never found.
Fact 5: After her disappearance, the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge was built in her honor.
The 1,150-ft-long steel cantilever bridge was completed in 1938 in her hometown of Atchison, Kansas. The bridge carries U.S. Route 73 across the Missouri River and sports a plaque at its center that reads “Dedicated to the intrepid woman aviator Amelia Earhart. This bridge spanning the Missouri River is erected in her honor and memory of world-wide flight, June 17, 1928.”
Fact 6: Her legacy lives on today in American and International aviation clubs.
The Amelia Earhart Club was founded in 1934 by Earhart and former naval aviator Elinor Smith, yet continued after she disappeared in 1937. The purpose of the club was to assemble professional female pilots to exchange new ideas, experiences, and information, and the organization still exists today. Additionally, the International Aviation Club is devoted to continuing Earhart’s legacy through mentoring programs, scholarships, and internships, while inspiring and motivating female aviation experts and enthusiasts around the world.
Fact 7: A feature-length film starring Hilary Swank was released in 2009 about Earhart’s life and disappearance.
The film, which features George Clooney and Richard Gere, recounts Amelia Earhart’s life from her rise to fame as an aviation pioneer to her mysterious disappearance in the Pacific Ocean. Filmed and released in 2009, the movie was titled “Amelia” and grossed over $17 million at the box office.
Fact 8: Earhart was awarded honorary degrees from several universities.
In recognition of her achievements in aviation and her passion for empowering women, Earhart had received several honorary degrees. Honorary degrees came from the University of Michigan, Tufts University, Harvard University, and Wesleyan University.
Fact 9: In 1929 Earhart was the first female passenger to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.
Prior to her solo transatlantic flight in 1932, there was considerable doubt as to whether it was possible for a woman to fly across the ocean. To prove the doubters wrong, Earhart was invited by The Universal Aviation Corporation to join a crew of two other male pilots in an attempt to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in a Fokker F.VII Trimotor. She accepted and became the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic. She also became the first woman to cross the ocean by air two years later when she made her solo flight.
Fact 10: After her return to the United States, Earhart was celebrated with a ticker tape parade in New York City.
The city of New York celebrated Earhart’s transatlantic achievement with a ticker tape parade and awarded her the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society. It was the first time that a woman had ever received the award.
Fact 11: Earhart spent her childhood as a bookworm.
This is no surprise for a woman who would become a famous aviator. As a child, Earhart had an insatiable appetite for reading. She would read about history, geography, and other topics in the public library.
Fact 12: Earhart was an early advocate of women’s rights.
Long before the second wave of feminism in the 1960s, Earhart was active in the promotion of equal rights for women. She was a vocal supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and a co-founder of the Ninety-Nines, an organization devoted to advancing female aviation.
Fact 13: She had an oracle bone inscription that read: “fly far.”
During a 1935 trip to China, Earhart acquired an oracle bone inscription that read “fly far”. This phrase, which was written on a 5000-year-old ox shoulder blade, presaged her ambitions and encouraged her to pursue her dreams of flying around the world.
Fact 14: Earhart was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1969.
Since its founding in 1969, the National Women’s Hall of Fame has honored Earhart for her pioneering achievements in aviation. The “High Flight” Memorial was built in her honor in 1979 to celebrate her flights and courage.
Fact 15: Books, movies, and statues have resulted in Amelia Earhart’s lasting legacy.
After her death and disappearance, many works of fiction and non-fiction were written about Earhart. Additionally, countless books, movies, and monuments have honored her achievements and inspired generations of aviation enthusiasts.
Conclusion
Amelia Earhart was an inspirational figure of the twentieth century whose courage and ambition continue to live on in the minds and hearts of future generations. These 15 facts about her life and work demonstrate why she is a revered figure in aviation and why her legacy endures.
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