Amelia Earhart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amelia Earhart
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Earhart beneath the nose of her Lockheed Model 10-E Electra, March 1937, Oakland, California
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Amelia Mary Earhart
July 24, 1897 Atchison, Kansas, U.S.
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| Disappeared | July 2, 1937 (aged 39) Pacific Ocean, en route to Howland Island from Lae, Papua New Guinea |
| Status | Declared dead in absentia January 5, 1939 (aged 41) |
| Known for | Many early aviation records, including first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean |
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Amelia Mary Earhart (born July 24, 1897; disappeared July 2, 1937) was a famous American aviation pioneer and writer. She was the first woman pilot to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean.
Amelia set many other flight records. She wrote popular books about her adventures in the sky. She also helped start The Ninety-Nines, an organization for women pilots.
Born in Atchison, Kansas, Amelia loved adventure from a young age. She started flying in her twenties. In 1928, she became the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic by plane. This trip made her famous.
In 1932, Amelia flew a Lockheed Vega 5B alone across the Atlantic. This made her the first woman to do so without stopping. She received the United States Distinguished Flying Cross for this amazing flight.
In 1935, Amelia became a special teacher at Purdue University. She advised students in aeronautical engineering and helped women students with their careers. She also supported the Equal Rights Amendment, which aimed for equal rights for women.
In 1937, Amelia tried to fly around the world in a Lockheed Model 10-E Electra. She and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. This happened near Howland Island. Amelia was officially declared dead on January 5, 1939.
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Amelia Earhart's Early Life and Flying Dreams
Amelia Earhart's parents encouraged her to try many things. She played football, baseball, and went fishing. These were activities often done by boys in her hometown of Atchison, Kansas. She watched many air shows in Los Angeles. One day, she paid a pilot one dollar for a 10-minute airplane ride. This ride made her decide to become a pilot. She later wrote, "By the time I had gotten two or three hundred feet off the ground, I knew I had to fly."
From 1921 to 1922, Neta Snook taught Amelia how to fly. Neta was the first woman to graduate from the Curtis School of Aviation. In October 1922, Amelia got her pilot's license. Soon after, on October 22, 1922, she set a women's altitude record. She flew 14,000 feet (4,200 meters) high in a Kinner Canary. This was an open-cockpit, single-engine biplane.
First Atlantic Crossing and New Records
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh flew alone across the Atlantic Ocean. His flight inspired many people. One person was Amy Guest, who wanted to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic. She bought a plane, but her family stopped her trip.
Amelia Earhart went in her place. She became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean. On June 4, 1928, she left Newfoundland, Canada. She joined Wilmer L. Stutz and Louis E. Gordon in their bright red Fokker F.VII plane. It was named the Friendship. They flew 2,000 miles (3,219 kilometers) to Wales. Amelia did not pilot the plane during the 20-hour, 40-minute trip. She said she was "just baggage." This made her even more eager to fly across the Atlantic by herself.
In 1929, Amelia helped start an organization. Its goal was to help women in aviation. It was called the Ninety-Nines. It had 99 founding members. These members were 99 of the 117 licensed women pilots in the United States at that time.
Amelia kept setting records. On July 6, 1930, she set a woman's speed record. She flew 181 miles per hour (291 kilometers per hour) in a Lockheed Vega. This was a single-engine monoplane. On April 8, 1931, she set an autogiro (like a helicopter) altitude record. She flew 18,451 feet (5,623.8 meters) high.
Amelia's First Solo Atlantic Flight
On May 20–21, 1932, Amelia achieved her dream. She flew alone across the Atlantic Ocean. She took off from Newfoundland, Canada, at 7:12 p.m. on May 20. She was in her Lockheed Vega plane. Her flight was very dangerous. The weather changed quickly. Her altimeter (which tells how high you are flying) broke. Gasoline leaked into the cockpit. At one point, her plane dropped almost 3,000 feet (914 meters). It went into a spin, but she managed to fix it. Flames also shot out of the engine.
She landed her plane on the coast of Ireland. The scary trip lasted 15 hours and 18 minutes. This was the second solo flight across the Atlantic ever. It was also the longest nonstop flight by a woman, covering 2,026 miles (3,261 kilometers). And it was the first time a woman flew alone across the Atlantic.
President Herbert Hoover gave her the National Geographic Society Medal on June 21, 1932. The U.S. Congress gave her the Distinguished Flying Cross. She was the first woman to get this honor. Amelia's achievement was very important to the world. It showed that women could achieve great things in aviation and other areas.
More Amazing Achievements
Amelia's next big achievement was setting a women's nonstop speed record across the country. On August 24–25, 1932, she flew from Los Angeles, California, to Newark, New Jersey. She did it in a record 19 hours and 5 minutes in a Lockheed Vega. She also became the first woman to fly solo from coast-to-coast. The next July, she flew the same route. This time she did it in 17 hours and 7 minutes, setting a new speed record.
In January 1935, Amelia became the first woman to fly alone a long distance over the Pacific Ocean. She flew from Honolulu, Hawaii, to San Francisco, California. This flight was difficult because of bad weather. It showed Amelia's courage and determination.
She then made two more first solo flights. One was on April 19–20 from Los Angeles, California, to Mexico City. It took 13 hours and 23 minutes. The second was on May 8, 1935, from Mexico City to Newark, New Jersey. This flight took 14 hours and 19 minutes.
The Flight Around the World
Amelia wanted to be the first person, man or woman, to fly around the world at its widest point, near the equator. She got the most advanced long-range plane available. It was a Lockheed Model 10E Electra. This all-metal, two-engine plane was changed for her trip. Extra fuel tanks replaced the passenger seats. This allowed the plane to fly much farther between refueling stops.
Her first attempt to fly around the world started on March 17, 1937. It began in Oakland, California. But it ended quickly with a crash in Honolulu, Hawaii. A tire blew out, and a part of the landing gear broke. Amelia decided to fix the damaged plane and try again.
Her next attempt began on May 20, 1937. This time, she headed from Oakland to Miami, Florida. The plane had mechanical problems along the way, causing more delays. Finally, she and Fred Noonan, her navigator, reached Miami. They made final adjustments to the plane's engines and instruments. At last, Amelia and Noonan were ready to leave.
What became Amelia's final flight began on June 1, 1937. Amelia and Noonan left Miami, Florida, for their round-the-world flight. They were in her twin-engine, red-winged Electra. From Miami, they flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Before taking off for this part of the flight, Amelia said, "I have a feeling there is just about one more good flight left in my system and I hope this trip is it. Anyway, when I have finished this job, I mean to give up long-distance 'stunt' flying."
Amelia's Disappearance
As Amelia's journey continued, news of her flight was on the front page of newspapers worldwide. She sent reports about the lands, cultures, and people she met. On June 30, 1937, Amelia and Noonan arrived in Lae, New Guinea. They had flown 22,000 miles (35,406 kilometers). They had 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) left to go.
Their next stop was the most dangerous part of the trip. It was Howland Island, a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. It was 2,556 miles (4,113 kilometers) away. Before Amelia took off from Lae on July 1, there was confusion about which radio frequencies to use. This problem was not solved before she left.
As Amelia neared Howland Island, she sent several radio messages. She asked about the weather. A new weather report described heavy clouds and rain northwest of Howland. Amelia had flown into the storm. She sent several more messages but never reached her destination. She disappeared somewhere off the coast of the island.
A large search party was quickly organized. But no remains of the crew or the plane were ever found.
There are many ideas about what happened to Amelia's plane on July 2, 1937. Most researchers believe that Amelia and Noonan got lost. They ran out of gas and crashed somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. However, two other ideas have become popular over the years. One is that they were captured and killed by the Japanese as spies. The other is that they landed on a deserted island and died from being exposed to the elements.
Possible Discovery of Electra
In 2024, a company called Deep Sea Vision found something on the ocean floor. They use unmanned underwater vehicles. They found what looks like the remains of an airplane using sonar. The object is shaped like the Electra. It was found about 16,000 feet (4.9 kilometers) underwater. It was also within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of Howland Island. More exploration is needed to confirm if this is Amelia Earhart's missing plane.
Amelia Earhart's Legacy
Amelia Earhart was only 39 when she disappeared. But she achieved a great deal. She is seen as a true hero of the 20th century, especially for women. She showed courage, honesty, and an independent spirit.
She used her fame to help women. She showed that a determined woman could achieve anything. Her efforts inspired a generation of women to seek new goals and new roles for themselves.
Books by Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart was a talented writer. She was the aviation editor for Cosmopolitan magazine from 1928 to 1930. She wrote many magazine articles and essays. She also published two books about her flying experiences:
- 20 Hrs., 40 Min. was her diary about her 1928 flight across the Atlantic as a passenger. This made her the first woman to make that journey.
- The Fun of It was a diary and memoir of her flying experiences. It also included an essay about women in aviation.
A third book, Last Flight, was published after she disappeared. It contained diary entries she made in the weeks before her final flight from New Guinea.
Famous Quotes from Amelia Earhart
- "Adventure is worthwhile in itself."
- "I have often said that the lure of flying is the lure of beauty."
- "Never interrupt someone doing what you said couldn't be done."
- "Mostly, my flying has been solo, but the preparation for it wasn't. Without my husband's help and encouragement, I could not have attempted what I have."
- “Worry retards reaction and makes clear-cut decisions impossible.”
Fun Facts About Amelia Earhart
- Amelia called her sister Grace "Pidge." Her sister called her "Meely." They used these nicknames even as adults.
- Amelia once built a ramp off the top of a toolshed. She said she felt like she was flying when she used it.
- Amelia left school to volunteer as a nurse for World War I soldiers.
- She did not like coffee or tea. She preferred hot chocolate.
- Amelia was one of the first celebrities to create her own fashion line. This is a popular trend among celebrities today.
- She encouraged other women to learn to fly.
- After Amelia disappeared, America spent $4 million looking for her.
- There is another Amelia Earhart who flew around the world in 2014. She was the youngest woman to do so in a single-engine plane.
Questions Kids Ask About Amelia Earhart
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How did Amelia Earhart die?
Since her plane was never found, no one can say for sure. Two years after she went missing, officials said her plane likely crashed in the Pacific Ocean and she drowned.
How old would Amelia Earhart be today?
Amelia would be 127 years old today.
Was Amelia Earhart's plane ever found?
No trace of her plane has been officially found. In 2019, Robert Ballard, the explorer who found the Titanic, searched for the plane but found no sign of it.
Where did Amelia Earhart disappear?
Amelia and her navigator disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean.
What island did Amelia Earhart crash on?
Howland Island was the tiny island in the central Pacific Ocean where they thought Amelia might have crashed. She was trying to find the island when she disappeared.
Did Amelia Earhart have kids?
Amelia did not have any children of her own. However, she did have two step-children.
What were Amelia's last words?
Her last message was Amelia giving compass directions to the Coast Guard cutter Itasca. This ship was near Howland Island and helping her during her flight. She said: "We are on the line 157 337. We will repeat this message. We will repeat this on 6210 kilocycles. Wait..."
Did Amelia Earhart survive the crash?
It is possible that Amelia and her navigator, Fred Noonan, survived a crash landing. However, they were never found.
Images for kids
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1963 U.S. Postal stamp honoring Earhart
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Earhart in evening clothes
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Earhart perched atop the dome of Low Memorial Library at Columbia in 1920. Earhart recalled in a 1933 interview, that "The first adventure I had at Columbia was in the air. I climbed to the top of the Library and then I descended into the intricate tunnels."
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L–R: Neta Snook, Earhart's Kinner Airster and Amelia Earhart, c. 1921
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Commemoration Stone for Amelia Earhart's 1928 transatlantic flight, next to the quay side in Burry Port, Wales
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Earhart walking with President Hoover in the grounds of the White House on January 2, 1932
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Studio portrait of Amelia Earhart, c. 1932. Putnam specifically instructed Earhart to disguise a "gap-toothed" smile by keeping her mouth closed in formal photographs.
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Earhart and Putnam in 1931
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Monument in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador
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Lockheed Vega 5B flown by Amelia Earhart as seen on display at the National Air and Space Museum
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Amelia Earhart Museum, Derry
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Amelia Earhart talking to Charles T.P. Ulm at Oakland Airport, California, USA, 1934
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Earhart and Noonan by the Lockheed L10 Electra at Darwin, Australia on June 28, 1937
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USCGC Itasca was at Howland Island to support the flight.
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Gardner (Nikumaroro) Island in 2014. "Seven Site" is a focus of the search for Earhart's remains.
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"Earhart Light" on Howland Island in August 2008
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See also
In Spanish: Amelia Earhart para niños
