Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic?
Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean, in May 1932. She flew from Newfoundland and landed in a field in Northern Ireland.
Earhart took off from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, on May 20, 1932, five years after Charles Lindbergh's famous solo flight. She faced strong winds, ice on the wings and mechanical problems, and landed after about 15 hours near Derry in Northern Ireland.
She had already become famous in 1928 as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, though only as a passenger. The 1932 flight proved her skill as a pilot and earned her the US Distinguished Flying Cross.
Her disappearance
In 1937, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while trying to fly around the world. Despite a huge search and many later expeditions, their fate remains one of aviation's great mysteries.
Earhart used her fame to encourage women to pursue careers in aviation and other fields. She wrote books, gave lectures and worked as a career adviser at Purdue University. Her plane for the 1932 flight, a red Lockheed Vega 5B, is now displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Did You Know?
Earhart helped found the Ninety-Nines, an organization of women pilots, and served as its first president.