NATIONAL AMELIA EARHART DAY: REMEMBERING AN AVIATION ICON
Amelia Earhart is a beacon of inspiration for women in the aviation industry because she broke through traditional gender norms and opened doors for women to succeed in aviation. Despite her disappearance, Amelia Earhart is recognized as a pioneer in the history of aviation and is celebrated annually by people worldwide. National Amelia Earhart Day is every 24th of July; she would have been 126 today. While many people might remember her due to her bizarre disappearance, she should also be remembered as a woman with a lot of achievements and trailblazing.
Exploring the Legacy of Amelia Earhart Day Through History
The day the world commemorates Amelia Earhart's inspiring life story and her birthday falls on the same day, July 24. Her fascination with aviation began in December 1920, when she flew in California with World War II pilot Frank Hawks. That signaled her to start flying lessons, and she did, in January 1921, under female pilot Neta Snook. After that, she purchased her first plane, a yellow Kinner Airster. Later that year, she named it ‘The Canary.’ And in December 1921, she received her National Aeronautics Association license; she was now unstoppable to fly.She achieved many records throughout her life, the first in 1922 when she was the first female pilot to fly alone at 14,000 feet. The first woman to fly across the Atlantic in 1932, she received the Distinguished Flying Cross (an award for heroism or extraordinary achievement during an aerial flight). Earhart was the first woman to fly across the US nonstop. She was also the first person to fly solo from Hawaii back to the mainland of the United States. Along with her long list of achievements, she also helped create The Ninety-Nines in 1929, a nonprofit organization that helps women advance in aviation. The organization continues to inspire other women who want to excel in flying through scholarships, education, and mentoring.
Amelia Earhart's Daring Attempt
June 1, 1937, was D-Day for Amelia Earhart when she began circumnavigating the globe with her navigator, Fred Noonan. Their expedition was doing well initially. However, no one heard from them when they left New Guinea on July 2 with 7,000 miles remaining. Radio contacts in the United States had lost contact with them; they had just vanished over the Pacific Ocean near Howland Island. To this day, their disappearance is still a mystery.
Celebrating Amelia Earhart Day
Let us remember her contributions during Amelia Earhart Day by reading, watching, or researching about this famous female aviator. Don't forget to add other women aviation pioneers who paved the way for others, such as Bessie Coleman and Louise Thaden.If you have a female friend or relative who wants to become a pilot, don't discourage them; show your support. According to data, the number of women pilots grew rapidly from 1960 to 1980, but it has subsided since then. You can also visit aviation museums to see the breathtaking history of the past. Helping a nonprofit aviation organization is another option to show your support.Every Amelia Earhart Day is a new hope that someday, the real cause of her plane's disappearance will soon be answered. Numerous attempts have been made to discover the wreck of her plane, but all have been unsuccessful.
New Discoveries on Her Disappearance
There have been new efforts to discover what happened to Amelia Earhart. Deep Sea Vision, a South Carolina-based company, has made a statement that they discovered sonar images of what could be her plane at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. They discovered a plane-shaped object between Hawaii and Australia, about 100 miles off Howland Island, where Earhart and Noonan were to refuel. The photos from the discovery seem to show that it is very similar to Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra aircraft. More research is necessary, despite this exciting finding. However, this Amelia Earhart Day, remember to celebrate her legacy and accomplishments.Suggested reads:
