Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart was a pioneering American aviator and one of the most iconic figures in early aviation history. Born in Atchison, Kansas, she developed a passion for adventure and flight from a young age. After serving as a nurse’s aide during World War I, she took her first flying lesson in 1921 and quickly became one of the few licensed female pilots of her time.

Earhart gained international fame in 1928 as the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air—though only as a passenger. Determined to prove her skill, she made a solo transatlantic flight in 1932, becoming the first woman to do so and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. She went on to set numerous records, including the first solo flight from Hawaii to California and the fastest transcontinental flight by a woman.

Beyond aviation, Earhart was a vocal advocate for women’s rights and helped found the Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots. She also worked as a lecturer, author, and advisor at Purdue University, promoting careers in science and engineering for women. In 1937, while attempting to become the first woman to fly around the world, Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean near Howland Island. Despite extensive search efforts, neither the plane nor their remains were ever found, and she was declared legally dead in 1939. Her disappearance remains one of the most enduring mysteries of the 20th century, and her legacy continues to inspire generations of aviators and advocates for gender equality.