Amelia Earhart was an aviation pioneer - the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Earhart, born in 1897, didn't discover flying until she was in her mid 20's. Until then, she couldn't quite figure out what she wanted to do. She was a volunteer nurse in Canada during World War 1, went to medical school for a while, and even spent time working as a mechanic.In 1920 Amelia Earhart went to a California air show with her father. After a ride in an airplane she knew what she wanted. She started taking lessons right away and soon became an excellent pilot. Within 6 months of getting her license she purchased her first plane. It was bright yellow and she named it The Canary.
In just a few years, Amelia Earhart began to break records. She broke the altitude record of 14,000 feet. Then, in 1928, she was invited to be the navigator on a flight across the Atlantic. She was the first woman to make that journey.
Four years later, in 1932, Earhart tried the same trip across the Atlantic, but this time she wanted to pilot the airplane by herself. Bad weather forced her to land in Ireland instead of Paris. In spite of that, she was successful in becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
Amelia Earhart continued to fly. She also wrote and gave speeches about flying and women's rights. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was so inspired by Earhart that she signed up for flying lessons. Roosevelt got a student permit, but never followed through with the lessons.
In 1937, Earhart tried to fly around the world, but disappeared somewhere in the South Pacific. Neither her plane nor her remains have ever been found.
Source: worksheetsplus.com/Reading/AmeliaEarhart.html Who Is AmeliaEarhart?
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