Amelia Earhart: THE SKY'S THE LIMIT

Amelia Earhart: THE SKY’S THE LIMIT 

Amelia Earhart is the world’s most famous female aviator, accomplishing many “firsts”.  Twice, she was the first female to fly across the Atlantic, first as a passenger, and later as a solo pilot. She was the first to fly solo from California to Hawaii, and the first to fly solo from Mexico City to New Jersey.  However, Earhart is probably best known not for a “first,” but for a “last” – her last flight.   

At 39-years-of-age, Earhart attempted to become the first person to fly around the world at its widest, close to the equator.  On March 17, 1937, she and her navigator Fred Noonan departed from Oakland, California and began the 29,000-mile journey.  With less than 7,000 miles to go, Earhart and Noonan mysteriously disappeared.  She was last heard over the Pacific somewhere between Lae, New Guinea and Howland Island.   President Roosevelt authorized an immediate search, but no trace of Earhart, Noonan, or the plane was ever found.  The cause of her disappearance remains unknown.  Photo courtesy of webs.rps205.com.

ADDITIONAL FACTS:

• Earhart would stay awake during her long flights by sniffing smelling salts.
• In 1932, she became the fastest aviator person to cross the United States, flying from California to New Jersey in 19 hours and 5 minutes.
• The U.S government spent over four million dollars searching for Earhart
• She designed her own line of clothes that were sold all over the United States.
• Earhart was a nurse before she became a pilot.