|
Though neither an engineer nor scientist, Amelia Earhart was an inspiration who opened the world of aviation to women across the globe. She was an aviator, author, and spokesperson for women's rights. She was also the first woman to obtain her pilot's license from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the organization which certifies aeronautic records. During an aviation career which began in the 1920s and ended with her disappearance in 1937, Earhart flew several different planes and broke many FAI records.
In 1921, Amelia Earhart bought her first plane, a Kinner Airster, for $2000. She named the two-seat biplane "Canary" because of the bright yellow color which it had been painted. Although Earhart's instructor considered the plane to be underpowered (60 hp from a three-cylinder Lawrence L2), Amelia used it to set a high-altitude record for women pilots (14,000 ft.) at an airshow in Long Beach, California.
Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, setting the record in June 1928 on a flight which lasted 20 hours and 40 minutes. Earhart was chosen for this flight by George Putnum (whom she would later marry), a man hired to find the "right sort of woman" to make the trans-Atlantic flight. At the time, Amelia Earhart was not well-known. She also lacked experience with multi-engine planes and instrument flying. Unhappy to be a mere passenger on the trip, Earhart was named commander. She was accompanied by co-pilot Lou Gordon and pilot Bill Stultz.
Earhart's first trans-Atlantic plane was a Fokker FVII named "Friendship" that had been fitted with pontoons – more unfamiliar equipment for Amelia. The Fokker FVII boasted a tri-motor monoplane design and featured a high-wing placement with the upper surface of the wing aligned to the top of the fuselage. Because the plane was designed for eight to twelve passengers, the trio carefully calculated the fuel required to make the trip. After encountering rough weather, they landed off-course in Wales with little fuel to spare. Amelia subsequently published a book about the flight, went on a lecture tour, and was named aviation editor for Cosmopolitan magazine.
Later in 1928, Earhart bought an AVRO Avian Cirrus Mk II with an 84-hp engine. Originally registered in the U.K., the plane was allowed to fly as an unlicensed but identified aircraft in the U.S. Amelia piloted this plane on her dream vacation, a flight across the United States and back. She thus became the first woman to complete a U.S. transcontinental round-trip flight alone.
Amelia Earhart's next plane was a Lockheed Vega, a sleek new monoplane with a wingspan of 41 ft. With a large cabin area because of its monocoque (shell) construction, the aircraft was a good choice for a record-seeking pilot. After Earhart set the women's aviation speed record, the plane was upgraded at a former Fokker Aircraft plant by mechanics Frank Nagle and Eddie Gorski, to allow increased fuel capacity and provide additional instrumentation for a solo trans-Atlantic flight.
In May 1932, Amelia Earhart became only the second person - and the first woman - to complete a solo flight across the Atlantic. The Lockheed Vega also allowed Earhart to fly from Los Angeles to Newark in just 19 hours and 5 minutes – the women's nonstop transcontinental speed record. Later, Amelia Earhart broke her own record by making the flight in 17 hours and 7 minutes.
Even greater accomplishments were yet to come.
Amelia Earhart: Part II coming on Tuesday 3/20/07.
Resources:
https://www.ameliaearhart.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_F.VII
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Earhart
http://www.acepilots.com/earhart.html
| 
Re: Amelia Earhart: Part I
