Amelia Earhart conquered the skies and broke barriers for women everywhere. She set aviation records that seemed impossible during her time. Furthermore, she became a massive celebrity who influenced fashion and culture. Consequently, her disappearance often overshadows her incredible life achievements. Explore these fascinating details about the Queen of the Air.
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart actually built a homemade roller coaster in her backyard as a child. She used greased rails to make the cart go faster and loved the dangerous speed.
Surprisingly, she was not impressed when she saw her first airplane at age ten. She described the rusted biplane at the state fair as a thing of rusty wire and wood.
She worked as a nurse’s aide in Toronto during World War I. She treated wounded soldiers returning from Europe and developed a strong admiration for aviators.
She bought her very first airplane in 1921 and painted it bright yellow. Consequently, she named the secondhand Kinner Airster biplane “The Canary.”
To pay for her flying lessons, she worked over a dozen different odd jobs. She spent time as a photographer, a truck driver, and a stenographer to fund her passion.
The press nicknamed her “Lady Lindy” because she resembled Charles Lindbergh. They both had slender builds and similar shy smiles that captivated the public.
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. She landed in a cow pasture in Northern Ireland after fighting strong winds and ice.
Remarkably, she launched her own clothing line that sold in department stores like Macy’s. She designed practical separates for active women using materials like parachute silk.
She refused to marry her husband, George Putnam, until he proposed six separate times. Furthermore, she wrote him a letter on their wedding day demanding an “open” marriage.
She became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the US mainland. Pilots considered this route dangerous, but she completed the 2,408-mile (3,875-kilometer) trip perfectly.
Purdue University hired her as a career counselor for female students. The university also helped fund the Lockheed Electra plane she used for her final flight.
She helped found “The Ninety-Nines,” an international organization for female pilots. The group took its name from the original number of 99 charter members.
Amelia Earhart hated the taste of coffee and tea, unlike most adults of her era. Instead, she drank a cup of hot chocolate before every flight for energy.
She received the Distinguished Flying Cross from Congress for her achievements. Thus, she became the very first woman in history to receive this military honor.
Finally, she disappeared near Howland Island while attempting to fly around the world. Her plane vanished after she traveled over 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometers) of the journey.
