Pilot Amelia Earhart- Aviation Pioneer (Famous Americans Series)

Join host Amy Contreras in Episode 3 of "Check This Out!" as we embark on an exciting journey through the life of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. In this episode, we explore the remarkable achievements of the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, delve into her adventurous spirit, and uncover the incredible flight records she set that changed the face of aviation forever. 

Listeners will discover how Amelia's early experiences shaped her daring pursuits, including her groundbreaking flights and her advocacy for women in aviation. 

For example- do you know she wasn't just a pilot, she was also a fashion designer and professor?  Well if you want to learn more listen along as we Check this out! 

Tune in for a blend of history, inspiration, and a tribute to this legendary figure who pushed boundaries and paved the way for future generations of pilots. Get ready to check out Amelia Earhart!

Transcript

Welcome to Episode 3 of “Check this out!” a podcast series for kids (and their grownups) where we explore interesting people, places, and ponderings that shape the world around us.   My name is Amy Contreras and I’m your host.

“Check this out” is all about exploring! Right now our series is focused on learning about Famous Americans, in our first 2 episodes we talked about Helen Keller and Benjamin Franklin.  At “Check this out” we will discuss  everything from the history of sports, to amazing animals, to inventions that changed the world.  In our first 10 episodes of “Check this out” we will introduce you to some historical and modern Americans who made a major impact on the world around them.  

Episode 3 is one I’m so excited about.  Because we are going to introduce you to a high flying famous American named Amelia Earhart.  Listeners keep your ears open throughout the podcast, because at the end I’m going to highlight 3 interesting facts about Amelia Earhart that you can continue to research on your own and check out more about after the podcast is done!  

Let’s dive in!  Amelia Earhart broke multiple records in aviation.  For example, she was the first woman pilot a non-stop transatlantic flight solo.  Amelia Earhart was the first person ever (man or woman) to fly solo from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland.  And she got lost at sea on a flight attempting to be the first person to travel around the world by plane at the equator.  (Plane Sound) 

It can be hard to imagine in today’s world what an incredible pioneer Amelia Earhart was.  We are used to planes that travel around the world, long flights, and female pilots (even though we still need more female pilots!).  But at the beginning of aviation, as an industry and science, the feats we take for granted today were risky, and record setting.  Keep in mind, the first ever airplane flight didn’t happen until the Wright Brothers achieved success in 1903.  (Wow sound) 

Amelia Earhart was a pioneer of aviation, a dynamic woman who was an author of several books, a clothing designer, professor, political advocate, and a brave pilot who pushed the boundary of what the world thought was possible.  Let’s learn more about this impressive woman and her achievements that make her a famous American we still talk about almost 100 years after she died.  

Amelia Earhart was born in Kansas in 1897, 6 years before the Wright brothers completed their first successful airplane flight in 1903.  As a child Amelia was adventurous and a bit of a “tom boy.” Her family moved around and she lived in several places growing up, including Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois.  She graduated highschool in Chicago in 1915.  

Amelia was highly educated for a woman in the early 1900s.  After highschool she attended college in Philadelphia at the Ogontz School. She was actively involved at college, playing hockey, serving as Vice President of her class, Secretary to a local Red Cross Chapter, and more! But Amelia left college in 1918 before graduating… any idea about why she left school?  

Was it…

1. To start flying airplanes 
2. to help nurse soldiers from WW1
3. To help take care of her parents 

 If you guessed to help nurse soldiers from WW1 you’re correct!  She didn’t start flying until a bit later in her life.  

(Ding! Sound) Check this out! Have you heard about world war 1? WW1 took place from 1914-1918 with over 30 countries involved in the war.  It is also referred to as the great war.  Lots of soldiers needed care during and after the war.  Amelia was inspired to help so she went to Toronto to volunteer for the war effort and help soldiers as a nurse.  Her time in toronto as a nurse was critical, because it was during her time in toronto that Amelia Earhart had one of the most defining moments of her life.  

She attended her first flying exposition with a friend while in toronto in 1918.  

Do you know what a flying exposition is?  Well back in the early days of flight these were much more common.  If you’ve ever heard of the Blue Angels or an Air and Water show, that is a type of flying exposition that still happens today!  

A flying exposition is where aircraft are displayed and flown publicly.  Pilots and companies get to showcase different types of airplanes via demonstrations.  The demonstrations include 

1. information booths explaining the technology and history behind the aircraft 
2. Displays of what the airplanes can do up in the air by showing flying and tricks

What is so special about this exposition that Amelia attended?  While she was watching the pilots fly she was seated with her friend on a hill to watch.  As they were watching,  a stunt pilot dove his plane at Amelia and her friend from where they watched!.  (Plane sound) Could you imagine?! An airplane coming right at them must have been scary!  But instead of scampering away as the plane dove at them, Amelia held her ground and became intrigued by all things flying and aviation.  

After her time volunteering as a nurse in Toronto she enrolled in pre-medical classes at Columbia University.  Like I mentioned she was highly educated for a woman in the early 1900s.  But she again did not graduate because in 1920 Amelia moved to Los Angeles to be with her parents.  It was in Los Angeles where she took her first flight inside an airplane.  She experienced this life changing first flight with veteran pilot Frank Hawks.

How old were you when you went on your first airplane ride? 

Have you ever ridden on an airplane before?  

What do you like most about airplane rides?  

After Amelia went on her first flight she loved it so much she wanted to take flying lessons.  She had her first flying lesson in January of 1921 with a flight instructor named Neta Snook.  Amelia loved flying so much she took a number of jobs to save money for flight lessons and to buy her own airplane.  

In 1921 Amelia was able to purchase her first airplane!  And she gave it a name! Her first airplane was a yellow Kinner Airster biplane. 

What do you think Amela Earhart named her first airplane? 

1. Canary 
2. Lightning 
3. Sunshine 

If you said Canary you’re right!  (correct sound) What a fun name.  Perfect for a little yellow airplane.  

Amelia took her first solo flight in 1921 and started setting records almost immediately.  

Let’s talk about some of the aviation records that Amelia Earhart set!  

Before she officially earned her pilot's license (which happened in 1923) she set the unofficial feminine altitude record of 14,000 feet in 1922.   Which means she flew the highest a female pilot had ever flown before.  

Even though she had already started breaking records in 1922, in 1923, Amelia Earhart became the 16th woman to receive an official pilot license.  And many more records after the altitude record were to follow….  

We told you about some of these records at the beginning of the podcast.  Do you remember any?  

If you mentioned transatlantic travel or hawaii you’re right on target!  Let’s recap. 

A few of Amelia Earhart’s major records included: 

In 1928 she was the first woman ever to be a transatlantic passenger.   Which means she flew across the Atlantic ocean from Canada to Ireland.  This was a much longer distance than planes in the late 1920s were used to flying! So it was a big deal, and risky.  Other’s had died attempting this same flight before Amelia and her counterparts succeeded.  She later wrote a book on this experience.    

In May of 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman—and the second person ever after Charles Lindbergh—to fly nonstop and solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She also was the first person to cross the Atlantic by air twice. Since she had done it in 1928 as well when she flew it as a passenger.  As a reminder, traveling across the atlantic by plane is also known as a transatlantic flight.  

In 1932 she completed the first solo, nonstop flight by a woman across the United States, from Los Angeles, California to Newark, New Jersey.  Again this was a major accomplishment due to the distance between LA and Newark.  2477 miles to be exact!   

All of these records Amelia set or broke were a huge deal at the time. Not only had many of these feats of aviation never been done before, but seeing a woman do this was highly unusual.   

But she didn’t stop there! 

In 1929 she set the Feminine speed record.

In 1930  She broke Feminine speed record (again) .

In 1931 she became the First woman to fly an autogiro.

In 1931 she also set the Autogiro altitude record of 5,612 meters (18,415 feet).

In 1935 she completed the first ever solo hawaii to mainland US flight 

1935 was a busy year for her, during that year she also set the Speed record between Mexico City and Washington, D.C. and became the First person to fly solo from Mexico City to Newark, New Jersey.

WOW, that was a lot of records.  Which one do you think was the coolest? 

I mentioned at the start of the podcast Amelia Earhart wasn’t just an aviation pioneer.  While she was busy making her name breaking records and flying all over the world.  She also had additional contributions beyond just aviation pioneering.  

She designed a series of clothing for women as well as luggage.  The Earhart luggage was sold into the 1990s!  

Amelia published multiple books in her short life.  Her first book was about her experience on the record setting transatlantic flight she was a passenger on in 1928.  She launched that book with the help of a publisher named George Putman.  Her book helped her gain fame across the world and led to her becoming the Aviation Editor for Cosmopolitan magazine.  Amelia and George Putnam had a long partnership and they were so close that they even eventually got married!  

I mentioned Amelia was a big advocate for women in the aviation field.  Did you know she helped found the first organization for women aviators?  

See if you can guess what was this organization for female aviators was called!

1. The flying femmes 
2. The Ninety-Nines
3. The Aviationistas  

The answer is B! The Ninety nines.  Amelia not only helped found and launch the ninety nines, she served as its first president in 1931.

In 1935, Amelia Earhart became a visiting professor at Purdue University. She was invited to teach at Purdue by the president of the university.  Amelia Earhart was a staunch advocate of higher education for women, especially in engineering and science. In addition to teaching she was a counselor for women and a guest lecturer in aeronautics. Purdue’s president, Edward Elliott, was an active supporter of Earhart's flying career.  He helped convince Purdue to purchase a twin-engine Lockheed 10-E Electra plane for her.

If you knew anything about Amelia Earhart before listening to this podcast you may have already heard that her final flight was her most famous - where she mysteriously disappeared over the pacific ocean.   

Using the plane that Purdue University purchased for her, Amelia Earhart started preparations to make a flight around the world in 1937.  Amelia first tried to fly around the world in March of 1937 but suffered a crash in Honolulu, HI a few days after getting started.  She made a second attempt to fly around the world in May.  On May 21st, 1937 she took off from Oakland California, starting the first leg of her last flight.  Amelia Earhart wasn’t alone for her final flight, she had her navigator, Fred Noonan, with her 

Amelia had a fierce desire to be the first person (man or woman) to fly around the globe at the equator.  She even asked the president of the united states, Franklin Roosevelt, and the navy for their help in accomplishing this goal!  

CHECK THIS OUT! Flying around the world at the equator is where the globe is the longest.  The Equator is an imaginary line that is drawn around the middle of the Earth to divide it into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. 

As Amelia and Fred started working their way around the world they traveled to Brazil, Dakar, Khartoum, Bangkok and Darwin, and Australia. They completed almost 22,000 miles of the around the world trip.  On June 29, 1937, Amelia’s plane arrived in Lae, New Guinea.  She took off from Lae, New Guinea on July 2nd with the goal of flying to Howland Island to refuel.  Howland Island was a tiny island in the middle of the vast pacific ocean.  Amelia and Noonan were unable find the island, and ended up losing radio contact with the Coast Guard.    

They officially disappeared over the pacific and a massive search took place until October of 1937.  Even President Roosevelet helped fund the search through July!   In 1939 Amelia Earhart was officially declared dead by a court.  

Amelia Earhart was an aviation icon. She was only 39 years old when her plane went missing over the Pacific Ocean and she had a major impact on the world during her short life.  Her legacy opened doors for women in aviation around the world, and showed millions the possibility of what can happen when you push boundaries.  

Now lets take a moment for you to take 3 facts away from this episode to check out on your own!  Remember, when you do additional research on Amelia Earhart make sure to ask a grownup for help.   

3 facts about amelia earhart we love that you can check out further!  

1. Amelia Earhart took flying lessons with an instructor named Neta Snook, a female pilot.  When you check this out, learn more about Neta and her story! 
2. Amelia Earhart wrote 3 books! Check out those books and learn about which stories they tell of her life.  
3. Amelia wasn’t just a pilot, she was a fashion designer and professor.  Check out her time at Purdue university and her impact on her students.  

By now if you’ve been listening to our podcast you know we don’t just love investigating cool people, places, and ponderings from history.  We also love to rhyme!  Here is a poem we created about Amelia Earhart to help you remember her amazing accomplishments and why we remember her as a famous american! 

In skies so bright, Amelia soared, A pusher of boundaries, whose dreams loudly roared.
From Kansas plains, she took her flight, Into the sky she flew strong, at daring heights. 

In her plane "Canary", she flew so high, Breaking so many records, my, oh my!
Transatlantic trips, both near and far, A pilot’s name, a shining star. 

She blazed a trail for all to see, Inspiring future flyers, like you and me.
Her final flight across the pacific was rough Although she was lost at sea we know her spirit was tough 
Amelia Earhart’s legacy lives on! We remember her long after she’s gone.   

Thanks for listening to another episode of Check This out as we explore Famous Americans. 

Here at the “check this out” we know it can be hard to know if information you find online is accurate! This podcast is a tool for you to help you do something called “citing your sources”.  On “check this out” we use verified sources to build the stories you hear about. Our sources for this week's episode are encyclopedia britannica, the smithsonian institute, us naval institute,  PBS, and purdue university. 

Thanks for exploring with us at Check This Out!  See you next episode.  

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Amelia-Earhart

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/amelia-earhart#:~:text=In%201932%2C%20she%20became%20the,an%20organization%20of%20female%20aviators. 

https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/five-things-you-may-not-know-about-amelia-earhart 

https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/amelia-earhart#:~:text=Amelia%20Earhart%20is%20one%20of,United%20States%2C%20among%20 other%20 accomplishments. 

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1971/february/amelia-earharts-final-flight

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/earhart-timeline/ 

https://collections.lib.purdue.edu/aearhart/timeline.php