Amelia Earhart: The Radiant Luminary of Aviation History

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In the boundless tapestry of history, certain luminous stars shine brighter than the rest, casting a radiant glow upon the world. Amelia Earhart, a fearless and adventurous soul, emerged as one such celestial luminary in the early 20th century. With the wind in her hair and the sky as her canvas, she painted her indomitable spirit across the realms of aviation. Her story is one of courage, ambition, and a relentless pursuit of gender equality at a time when the skies were deemed the exclusive domain of men.

In 1918, while attending an air show in Canada a stunt plane dived towards her to scare her. But she did not flinch. Instead of running away, she faced the plane. As we embark on a journey through her extraordinary life, we unravel the tale of a woman who defied gravity, challenged societal norms, and left an indelible mark on the history of flight. Amelia Earhart, an icon of the skies and an inspiration for all time.

Amelia was born to parents Amy Otis and Edwin Stanton Earhart in Kansas on July 24, 1897, She didn’t have a traditional upbringing. She along with her younger sister spent their free time doing unconventional activities. Her spirit of adventure only grew with age. After finishing high school, she attended a finishing school but did not complete the course. Instead, she opted for nursing.

She volunteered to treat wounded Canadian soldiers returning from European battlefields during World War I. It was only later that she discovered her passion for flying.

After attending an airshow in California, she took her first flight in 1920 and was hooked. She took up flying lessons and saved enough money to buy a bright yellow glider plane which she nicknamed, ‘The Canary’.  In 1923, she earned her international pilot’s license. In 1928 she became the first woman to fly over the Atlantic in an airplane. She did not fly the plane but was there as a passenger.

But this feat catapulted her to immense fame. After she got back, George Putnam of a prominent publishing firm asked her to share her experience.  He later became her husband. She formed the organization Ninety-nines for female pilots.

Her book, “Friendship Flight: Twenty Hours & Fourty Minutes” was published. In 1932 Earhart took off from Newfoundland Canada and landed in Northern Ireland thus becoming the first woman to fly herself across the Atlantic Ocean. The world went crazy. She wrote her second book, “The Fun Of It”.

President Hoover gave her the gold medal of the National Geographic Society. Congress gave her the distinguished flying cross; the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honors from the French govt. The site of her landing in Ireland, now has a small museum, the Amelia Earhart Centre.

In 1935, she became the first person to fly solo across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. She flew from Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California. Between 1930-35, she set seven women’s speed and distance flying records.

But her main ambition was to fly around the world. She got a new plane, and navigator and prepared for the route. Her first attempt was not successful but she did not lose heart. She ventured again. Raised aid, fixed her plane, and organized the course.

On June 1 1937 Amelia with her Navigator Fred Noonan took off from Miami Florida in an attempt to fly 29,000 miles around the world. By June 29, they made it to New Guinea. They had only 2000 miles left. But as they crossed the Pacific Ocean, something happened. They set out on July 2, 1937, at 12:30 a.m. heading towards Howland Island, and just disappeared. They were never seen again. No wreckage or remains were ever found. President Roosevelt sent 66 aircraft and 19 ships to look for them. The official search ended on July 18, 1937. Amelia was declared dead in 1939 by a court in Los Angeles. It remains a mystery to this date.

On the 24th of July each year, we gather to honor a luminous trailblazer, as Amelia Earhart Day unfurls its wings. It’s a day to salute the unquenchable flame of adventure that blazed in her heart and her remarkable contributions to the world of aviation. Her story may have been touched by tragedy, but her life was an anthem to the audacity of exploration, a symphony of blazing new trails where none had ventured before, a melody of countless “firsts” etched into the very fabric of the skies.

In a world where expectations were cast like shackles upon the ambitious souls of women, Amelia stood as a beacon of hope. With unwavering determination, she declared from the heavens above, “The sky is the limit.”

Her words resound through time, a resounding affirmation to all those who dare to dream beyond boundaries and soar above the constraints of convention. On this day, we celebrate the spirit of a woman who dared to defy gravity, a courageous figure who beckons us to reach for the stars and discover the boundless possibilities that lie beyond. Amelia Earhart, the unyielding voyager of the skies, still whispers to us: “Dream, explore, and let your spirit take flight.

–Nidhi Raj is an independent writing professional, storyteller, and mother with a keen interest in women’s issues and International Relations.