Aviation trailblazer Amelia Earhart made history on Aug. 24, 1932, by becoming the first woman to fly solo across the U.S. nonstop. She piloted her Lockheed Vega 5B from Los Angeles to Newark in an impressive 19 hours and 5 minutes. This 3,986-kilometer (2,477-mile) flight set a new official U.S. record for women’s distance and time, according to the National Air and Space Museum.
Less than a year later, Earhart achieved another milestone by setting a new transcontinental speed record, completing the same flight in just 17 hours and 7 minutes. She continued to push the boundaries of aviation on Jan. 11, 1935, by becoming the first person to solo fly the 2,408-mile distance across the Pacific between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Oakland, California. This flight also marked the first time a civilian aircraft carried a two-way radio.
Born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, Earhart displayed an adventurous and independent spirit from a young age. After her first airplane ride in 1920, she was inspired to take flying lessons. She bought her first plane, a Kinner Airster, in 1921 and earned her pilot’s license two years later. Earhart’s passion for aviation led her to pursue her interest further in Massachusetts.
Much of the publicity surrounding Earhart’s achievements was managed by publisher George Palmer Putnam, who had helped organize her historic flights. In 1931, Earhart married Putnam, but she continued her career under her birth name. She flew to record-setting altitudes and acquired the iconic red Lockheed 5B Vega that would carry her into history.
On May 20, 1932, exactly five years after Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic, Earhart became the second person and the first woman to achieve this feat. Despite facing challenges such as inclement weather and mechanical difficulties, she completed the journey from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland in a record-breaking time of 14 hours and 56 minutes.
Earhart’s fate took a tragic turn on July 2, 1937, during her attempt to circumnavigate the globe with navigator Fred Noonan. Despite a massive search-and-rescue mission, the pair never reached their destination of Howland Island. The Navy concluded that they had run out of fuel, crashed into the Pacific, and drowned. Although her plane disappeared in 1937, Earhart was officially declared deceased on Jan. 5, 1939.
Despite her untimely end, Earhart’s accomplishments and legacy continue to inspire countless individuals. She was posthumously honored by being inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1968 and the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1973. Her image also appeared on a 1963 air mail stamp and the USNS Amelia Earhart, a Navy cargo ship launched in 2007, was named in her honor. The mystery of her disappearance remains a topic of fascination and speculation in popular culture.
Amelia Earhart’s pioneering spirit and determination have left an indelible mark on the world of aviation, serving as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring pilots everywhere. Her legacy continues to captivate imaginations and remind us of the boundless possibilities that can be achieved through courage and perseverance.
