Amelia Earhart - Aviator, Pioneer, Activist

Amelia Earhart was an American aviation pioneer, author, and women's rights activist. She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and set many other records throughout her career. Earhart's life was tragically cut short when she disappeared during a flight over the Pacific Ocean in 1937. Her legacy continues to inspire and motivate people around the world to this day.

Early Life and Career

Amelia Mary Earhart was born on July 24th in Atchison, Kansas in 1897. She spent much of her childhood moving around the country due to her father's job as a railroad attorney. When she was 11 years old, Earhart saw her first airplane at the Iowa State Fair, but it wasn't until she attended an air show in Toronto, Canada, in 1918 that she became truly interested in aviation.

After finishing high school, Earhart attended Ogontz School for Girls in Pennsylvania before studying at Columbia University in New York City. She didn't complete her degree, however, as her family's financial situation forced her to leave school and work as a nurse's aide during World War I. It wasn't until 1920 that she finally got the opportunity to take her first flying lesson.

In 1921, Earhart moved to Los Angeles, California, where she began to work as a telephone operator to save money for flying lessons. She eventually bought her first plane, a Kinner Airster, and began to set records in the field of aviation.

Achievements in Aviation

In 1928, Earhart was asked to join a transatlantic flight attempt by wealthy socialite and pilot George Palmer Putnam. The flight was successful, with Earhart serving as a passenger, and the experience sparked her desire to become a pilot in her own right. The following year, she became the first woman to complete a solo flight across the North American continent.

In 1932, Earhart made history by becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She departed from Newfoundland, Canada, on May 20 and landed in Northern Ireland the following day. This achievement earned her widespread fame and numerous awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross from the U.S. Congress.

Earhart continued to set records in aviation throughout the rest of her career. In 1935, she became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California, and in 1937, she set her sights on flying around the world. Unfortunately, her journey came to a tragic end when her plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937. After Earhart disappeared, extensive searches were conducted but sadly no traces of Earhart herself or her plane have ever been found.

Legacy and Influence

Amelia Earhart's life and achievements continue to inspire people around the world, particularly women who aspire to careers in aviation and other male-dominated fields. She was a strong advocate for women's rights and often spoke out about gender equality and the need for women to have equal opportunities in all aspects of life.

Earhart's legacy is celebrated in numerous ways, including through the Amelia Earhart Fellowship, which provides financial support to women pursuing graduate degrees in aerospace science and engineering, and the Amelia Earhart Award, which is given by the Federal Aviation Administration to pilots who have made significant contributions to the field of aviation.

Overall, Amelia Earhart was a trailblazer and a true pioneer in the field of aviation. Her courage, determination, and passion for flying continue to inspire people around the world, and her legacy serves as a reminder that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard to achieve your dreams and mostly importantly to never give up on them.

The Earhart-class Escort in Star Trek Online

Honouring Mrs Earhart's achievements in aviation and far beyond Cryptic released a playable starship class in 2019, the Earhart-class Strike Wing Escort. This powerful starship is equipped with a so called "Cascading Gravimetric Disruptions Console (Universal)" enhancing directed energy weapon damage, boosting a captain's control expertise as well as spreading kinetic damage in a 135 deg. arc and pulling all affected foes towards the explosion. Furthermore, this escort offers one hangar bay and a Lieutenant Commander Universal / Command hybrid specialist bridge officer seat.


What do you think about the article? Have you ever heard of Amelia Earhart and do you own the Earhart-class in Star Trek Online? Please let us know in the comments!


WRITTEN BY Captain AlexRider, FNS
EDITED BY Solace
IMAGES SOURCED FROM www.history.com - www.biography.com