Amelia Mary Earhart, a renowned American aviation innovator and author, was the first woman to be rewarded with the U.S Distinguished Flying Cross award for becoming the first aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was instrumental in the formation of 'The Ninety-Nines', an organization for female pilots and wrote some best-selling books about her flying experiences. The nickname of Amelia Earhart was "Lady Lindy" because of her accomplishments comparable to those of Lindbergh Charles. She was considered as "the most notable of all women aviators."
She was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, and her parents motivated her from a young age to take part in activities that are normally left to boys, such as fishing, baseball and football. Her view of a pilot getting highly paid, watching several air shows in Los Angeles, and her parent's encouragement, all contributed to her decision to become a pilot and join this predominantly male field. At the age of three, she was sent to live with her grandmother. During childhood, Amelia was fond of tree-climbing, pony-riding, snow-sledding and hunting activities. Her parents were only 50 miles away, and she summered with them, so she stayed close to them during these years.
In 1921, she started her flying career in Los Angeles and at the age of 24, learnt flying from Snook Neta and bought her first aeroplane - a Kinner Airstar. In 1924, she sold her aeroplane due to family problems, and moved back East where she took employment as a social worker. After four years, she returned to aviation and then on, achieved numerous aviation records and feats. In 1928, she became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic and in 1932, she became the second person to fly solo across the Atlantic. Consecutively, 1935 saw her become the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California. On February 7, 1931, Earhart married George. P. Putnam, an American explorer, author and publisher.
Amelia Earhart was a widely famous international celebrity during her lifetime. Her goal-oriented career, courage, coolness under pressure, persistence, independence and shyly charismatic appeal drove her lasting fame in pop culture. There are hundreds and thousands of books and articles that have been written about her life, which is oftentimes referred as a motivational tale, particularly for women. She is indeed a feminist icon and a role model. Her achievements in aviation inspired many female aviators. The place where Amelia was born is now the Birthplace Museum and maintained by the Ninety Nines, a global group of woman pilots of whom Earhart was the first elected president.
On July 2, 1937, Amelia disappeared when she was flying over the Pacific Ocean in a record attempt to fly around the world at the equator. Her last resting place has long been a mystery. According to the researchers at The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR), Amelia Earhart, a legendary aviator, probably died on an abandoned tropical island in the southwestern Pacific republic of Kiribati.
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