Grew up with her sister Muriel and her parents, Edwin and Amy Earhart
Adventurous spirit from a young age: climbed trees, hunted rats, collected insects
Education was scattered due to her father's unstable job
Graduated from Hyde Park High School, Chicago, in 1915
Attended Ogon's School, left to become a nurse's aide during WWI
Studied medicine at Columbia University but left after being inspired by aviation
Introduction to Aviation
1920: Attended an air show in Long Beach, California; took a 10-minute plane ride that changed her life
January 1921: Began flying lessons with Netta Snook at Kinner Field
Worked various jobs (truck driver, stenographer) to pay for flying lessons and her first plane, a Kinner Airstar (nicknamed "the Canary")
May 15, 1923: Became the 16th woman in the US to receive a pilot's license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI)
Milestones in Aviation
First Transatlantic Flight as a Passenger (1928)
Invited by George P. Putnam to join a transatlantic flight as a passenger
Piloted by Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon in a Fokker F7B-3M named Friendship
Landed in Burryport, Wales after approximately 20 hours
Solo Transatlantic Flight (1932)
May 20, 1932: Became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
Departed from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, landed in Culmore, Northern Ireland
Flight lasted 15 hours and 18 minutes
Other Significant Flights
First person to fly solo from Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California
First woman to fly solo non-stop across the US (Los Angeles to Newark)
Set numerous speed and altitude records
Advocacy for Women
Passionate advocate for women's rights, believed in women's capabilities
Pioneered opportunities for women in aviation and other fields
Disappearance
Attempt to Fly Around the World (1937)
June 1, 1937: Began the journey from Miami, Florida with navigator Fred Noonan
Flew in a Lockheed Electra 10E
Final Flight to Howland Island
July 2, 1937: Departed from Ley, Papua New Guinea to Howland Island
Scheduled for refueling at Howland Island, supported by US Coast Guard cutter Itasca
Last transmission: "We must be on you but cannot see you. Gas is running low."
Search Efforts
Extensive search and rescue operation spanning over 250,000 square miles
No trace found of Amelia, Fred, or the plane
Theories of Disappearance
Controversial theories: spy mission for the US government, survival with new identity as Irene Bolum, crash landing on a remote island (Gardner Island/Nikumaroro)
Discovery and Recovery
July 20, 2024: The discovery of Amelia Earhart's plane near Nikumaroro by Robert P. Ballard's team
Using advanced sonar and underwater imaging technology, the wreckage was found
Recovered artifacts included parts of the fuselage, engine components fitting the Lockheed Electra
Earhart's Legacy
Symbol of courage and determination
Founding member of the 99s organization promoting women in aviation
Inspiration for countless women around the world to pursue careers in aviation
Subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries
Her life and achievements continue to inspire the pursuit of dreams and breaking barriers
Conclusion
Amelia Earhart's journey represents the spirit of adventure and determination
Continued inspiration and fascination with her life and unexplained disappearance