Amelia Earhart
by Georgie
Amelia Earhart was born July 24, 1897. Her father, Edwin Earhart, worked with railroads. Her mother, Amy, traveled with Edwin. So they left Amelia and her younger sister, Muriel, with their grandparents for the school year. Every once in a while, Amelia's father would take the family on a long trip. She visited cities in Iowa, Minnesota, and California. She took her first ride in an airplane in 1919. From then on she was hooked.
In 1928, George Putnam began looking for "an American girl of the right image" to make a transatlantic flight over a route followed in 1927 by Charles Lindbergh. Amelia was chosen. Although she was the passenger, the flight brought her instant fame. Amelia ended up marrying George Putnam.
In 1932, Amelia flew her own airplane, by herself, across the Atlantic and became the first woman ever to do so (while also setting a record for speed).
Amelia took her last journey on July 2, 1937. She and her navigator were on her final part of their trip when their twin-engine Lockheed Electra simply disappeared.
Amelia Earhart was a magnificent person. She believed she could do the impossible, and she did.
Time line:
1897 Born
1908 Saw first airplane at a state fair.
1920 Took her first airplane ride.
1921 Took first flying lessons..
1922 Bought first plane.
1928 Became first woman to fly across the Atlantic as a passenger.
1929 Placed 3rd in Woman's Air Derby.
1930 Set a women's speed record of 181 MPH.
1931 Married George Putnam.
1932 Became first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic.
1935 Became first person to fly alone from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Oakland, California.
Became first person to fly alone from Los Angeles, California, to Mexico City.
Became first person to fly alone from Mexico City to Newark, New Jersey.
1937 Attempted to fly around the world, and disappeared.
Bibliography:
Sky Pioneer- A Photobiography of Amelia Earhart by Corinne Szabo. Foreword by Linda Finch. Copyright 1997 by the National Geographic Society.