Amelia Earhart Pioneer Female Aviator By Jim Cornish

Amelia Earhart: Pioneer Female Aviator By Jim Cornish (1) When people hear the words “female took her to the official opening of a new airfield aviator”, the first name that often comes to in Long Beach, California. It was here she had mind is Amelia Earhart. her first airplane ride. It was with a barnstormer, as stunt pilot were called then. quot;As soon as we left the ground,quot; she later said, Earhart’s Early Life quot;I knew I, myself, had to fly.quot; (2) Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Earhart Become a Pilot Kansas on July 24, 1897. She was considered a tomboy by many of her childhood friends because she (5) In January, 1921, Earhart began her dared to do things that girls at the one dollar per minute flying lessons at a turn of the century usually did not California flight school. She wasn’t a do, like climbing trees, “natural” at flying and struggled with quot;belly-slammingquot; her sled in taking off and landing the plane. Many the snow to start it downhill, landings resulted in accidents, even and hunting rats with a rifle. As when she became an experienced a young girl, she would often go pilot. By mid-1922, thanks to her to the local airport with her father persistent character, she received her to watch the planes land and take pilot’s license. off. She vowed that one day she too would learn to fly. Her desires (6) Shortly after getting her license, and successes, like those of many Earhart bought her first airplane. This ordinary and famous people, came was a remarkable achievement in those from her childhood dreams. days. Many considered flying a “man’s” job, and women were discouraged and rarely (3) Earhart spent her teenage years in supported in their efforts to become pilots. But, Chicago. In 1919, at the age of in her new plane, she made her name known twenty-two, she began to prepare for in aviation circles. She entered many and won a career in Medicine at a university in numerous flying competitions and shows New York. During World War I, she across the United States. served as a military nurse in Canada. Despite the demands of her career, Earhart Sets Her First Record she continued to develop her interests in flying. (7) In 1927, an America air mail pilot named Charles Lindbergh, nicknamed Lindy, set a (4) Earhart’s first encounter with an airplane world’s record by becoming the first person to came on Christmas Day, 1920, when her father fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. It was an

achievement celebrated around the world. fuel tank. She felt she would not reach Paris as Within a year Earhart was invited to become Lindbergh had done five years earlier. To the first woman to make the Atlantic crossing avoid a crash, she made an emergency by air. A float plane named the Friendship, landing in an Irish cow pasture. Despite not flew her and a crew from Trepassey, reaching her destination, Earhart had Newfoundland, to England. The flight through completed the Atlantic crossing solo. In the harsh weather, including snow squalls and process, she had set a new record of thirteen freezing rain, last 20 hours 40 minutes. She hours and thirty minutes. instantly became famous, but she felt she did not deserve this recognition. After all, she (10) Like Lindbergh, Earhart received many reasoned, she was just a passenger and had awards and lots of attention for her record not flown the plane flight. The press called her quot;Lady Lindyquot;. She too was tall and slim, with short, wind-swept hair. In fact, she looked so much like Charles Earhart’s Solo Trans-Atlantic Lindbergh she could have Flight passed for his sister. In writing about the flight, (8) As Earhart’s interests Earhart said she had made and abilities became well- it to prove that quot;... women known across the United can do most things that a States, many people man can do. Not encouraged her to make everything,” she added, the Atlantic crossing solo “but certainly jobs requiring too. This achievement intelligence, coordination, would secure her place in speed, coolness, and will aviation history foorever. power.quot; It was a lesson that On May 20, 1932, the fifth would influence hundreds of young women, anniversary of Lindbergh’s trip, Amelia began even up to today. her attempt. She set out from a tiny airfield in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and headed towards the eastern horizon. Europe and a Earhart Inspires Many Young world’s record awaited her. Women (9) Earhart’s Atlantic crossing was difficult and dangerous. She flew her Lockheed Vega, now (11) By the 1930's, Earhart had accomplished equipped with a large tank a radio and new a lot for female pilots. In 1929 she helped navigation instruments, for the long trip. During found the “Ninety-Nines,” an international club the trip she flew through a lightning storm, and of women pilots and served as its first once almost crashed into the ocean. Blown off president from 1930 to 1932. She used every course and battling strong winds, she opportunity to promote careers for women in approached Ireland. After thirteen hours of aviation and to support the use of airplanes for non-stop flying, the exhaust pipes of her Vega the transportation of passengers. By 1931, were burned out and fuel was leaking from the there were about 300 licensed women pilots in

the United States, many of whom were inspired unsolved mysteries of the 20th century. On the by Earhart. most difficult leg of the trip, Earhart and her navigator vanished near an island in the Pacific Ocean. Intense searching by both the Earhart Sets Many New Records American and Japanese armed forces found no trace of them or their plane. People began (12) At a time when women were extremely to speculate about her disappearance. Some rare in technical and scientific areas, Amelia argued that the flight was a spy mission to Earhart became even more famous as she set gather data on Japan prior to the United States many other records around the world. After her entry into World War II. Some even believe trans-Atlantic flight in 1932, Earhart continued she was the victim of an abduction by aliens. to set new records and beat others set by Most people, especially in aviation, firmly other aviators, both male and female. In believed that Amelia Earhart, driven by her January 1935, for example, she outdid her passion for flying, disappeared in an accident. Atlantic flight in distance by making a solo This was supported by stories from the flight from Hawaii to California, the first pilot to islanders of the area who tell of a downed successfully make the trip. Her numerous flight. Recently, a metal fragment was accomplishments during the 1930's earned her recovered from one of the islands and the Distinguished Flying Cross, the first positively matched to the type of metal used in women to win the award. Many of her firsts her plane. But no wreckage or bodies have were associated with new equipment such as ever been recovered. two-way radio, new propeller controls and improvements in aircraft design. (15) Although only a few facts are known about the July 2, 1937 disappearance in the central Earhart’s Attempt to Fly Round Pacific, one thing is certain: Amelia Earhart the World had made a unique and timeless contribution to aviation and to women in aviation which will (13) In July 1936, Amelia Earhart received a go unchallenged for decades to come. new plane. It was designed for a round-the-world flight. If she succeeded, it Earhart Remembered in Gander would not be an aviation first, but it would be the longest– nearly 48,000 kilmetres. It would (16) To honour her accomplishments in be completed in stages and closely following aviation, one of the first streets in the new town the equator. of Gander was named Earhart Street and is located off Fraser Road, just down from our (14) The round-the-world flight placed Amelia school. Earhart in the center of one of the greatest

Amerlia Earhart Activities Vocabulary: Match the meanings to the underlined words in the paragraphs indicated in brackets. (2) common, not unusual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (3) job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (4) meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (5) not giving up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (5) a permit to operate a vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (6) a game where people compete for prizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (7) a person carried in a car or plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (7) done by one’s self . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (8) once a year celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (9) a small landing site for airplanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (9) an unexpected event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (9) fumes from an engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (10) another name for newspapers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (11) many different countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (12) many . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (13) a step at a time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (14) guess, judge without evidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (14) remains of a downed plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (14) disappeared . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ (14) a small piece of something . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________ Write your own sentences using any four words from your answers in the vocabulary section ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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Identifying Topics: What are the topics in this passage on Amelia Earhart? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Which topics would likely contain information on each of the following? a. How Earhart spent some of here childhood time? ________________________________________________________________________________ b. What conditions Earhart faced on her solo trans-Atlantic flight? ________________________________________________________________________________ c. When Earhart got her pilot’s license? ________________________________________________________________________________ d. What happened to Earhart on her round-the-world flight? ________________________________________________________________________________ Finding Facts: Scan the passage and find the information that complete the following. Earhart’s birthday: ________________________________________________________________ Where Earhart landed in Europe: _____________________________________________________ The day Earhart disappeared: _____________________________________________________ The name of the women’s pilot organization she founded: ________________________________ The date Earhart started her solo flight across the Atlantic: ________________________________ Where Earhart started her solo trans-Atlantic flight: _____________________________________ The kind of pilot that gave Earhart her first ride: _____________________________________ The kind of airplane Earhart use the fly the Atlantic: _____________________________________

Reading Comprehension Questions 1. What connections did Amelia Earhart have to Canada and to Newfoundland? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Why was Earhart called a “tom-boy” by her friends? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What difficulties did Earhart have during her flight across the Atlantic? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Why was Earhart called “Lady Lindy”? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

Your opinion 1. Do you think Earhart would be called a “tomboy” today? Why or Why not? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 2. How was Earhart an inspiration to young women? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What kind of person must Earhart have been to accomplish her goals in aviation? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

Amelia Earhart Pioneer Female Aviator By Jim Cornish

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Amelia Earhart Pioneer Female Aviator By Jim Cornish — Document Transcript