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Amelia Earhart in an airplane. Image by Harris & Ewing –

Top 10 Little Facts about Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart is a name that is synonymous with aviation and adventure. She was a pioneer in the field of aviation, breaking barriers and setting records that inspired generations of women to pursue their dreams. She first fell in love with flying on an airfield trip with her dad. Her father took her to visit Frank Hawks, a pilot legend in Long Beach. As soon as they were two or three hundred feet off the ground she was sold! The 10-minute ride forever changed her life. While many people know the basics of her life story, there are some lesser-known facts that are just as fascinating. Her pioneering achievements in aviation and her advocacy for women’s rights and equality were the main reasons for her fame and recognition. Earhart’s legacy as a trailblazer and inspiration for women in aviation continues to this day, with many organizations and awards named in her honor.

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1. Amelia Earhart served as a nurse’s aide after the World War I

During WWI, Earhart was a teenager and in school. She only became involved in aviation until after the war had ended. However before she was a pilot, she serves as a nurse’s aide briefly in Toronto during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, after World War I. She worked with wounded soldiers and developed a deep sense of compassion for those who were suffering.

2. She suffered from Chronic sinusitis

Photo of Amelia Earhart as she completed her flight from Honolulu to Oakland, California in 1935. Image by Associated Press –

When working as a nurse’s aide in Toronto, her duties included night shifts. Soon she became sick and was admitted due to pneumonia and maxillary sinusitis. She was later discharged but had already acquired chronic sinusitis which continued to affect her throughout her life. Often than not, the condition affected her flying and other activities in her life. Sometimes she was forced to wear a bandage on her cheek to cover a small drainage tube.

3. She was known for her distinctive sense of style

Amelia Earhart. Image by Luciaroblego –

She was an independent and adventurous spirit. Her nature showed in her fashion styles. She always wore comfortable and practical clothing that was suitable for flying such as leather jackets, trousers, and aviator caps. Her signature look included a white scarf and goggles, which became synonymous with her image as an aviator. One time, thinking that other aviators would judge her, she slept in a leather jacket for three nights to give the jacket a “worn” look. She also cropped her hair short in the style of other female flyers. Since she was pretty popular, other women began to look for inspiration in her fashion style. She even designed her own line of clothing for women who wanted to dress like her.

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4. Amelia Earhart was an author

Portrait of American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. Image by Copyright by Underwood and Underwood  –

Her first book, 20 Hrs., 40 Min., was published in 1928 and documented her experiences as a passenger on the first transatlantic flight with pilots Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon. She went on to write several more books about her aviation experiences, including The Fun of It (1932), Last Flight(1937), and The Flight of Amelia Earhart (1967). She also wrote numerous articles for magazines and newspapers and was a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan magazine. In addition to her writing, Earhart was also an accomplished public speaker and gave numerous lectures on aviation and women’s issues throughout her career.

5. She set many aviation records

Amelia Earhart. Image by Los Angeles Daily News –

Earhart was in a male-dominated field. It did not deter her to accomplish all she set out to do between the two genders. She was a pioneer meaning she had many firsts in the aviation world.  Her pioneering achievements in aviation paved the way for other women to follow in her footsteps and helped to break down gender barriers.

6. She was a member of the Ninety-Nines

Ninety-Nines is an international organization of female pilots that was established in 1929. Earhart was a founding member. The organization aimed to promote women’s involvement in aviation and to support women pilots through training, networking, and advocacy. She was very hands-on when it came to the foundation activities and even served as president. She aided in the establishment of the organization’s scholarship program, which provides financial assistance to women pursuing aviation careers, and in organizing the first Women’s Air Derby in 1929, a transcontinental air race that drew national attention to women’s achievements in aviation. Currently, the Ninety-Nines has over 5,000 members in 44 countries. Its members continue to promote and support women’s involvement in aviation and honor the legacy of pioneering women like Amelia Earhart.

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7. She was a celebrity in her time

Amelia Earhart and fans. Image by Harris & Ewing –

She often appeared in advertisements for products ranging from cigarettes to luggage and was even featured on a postage stamp. Her celebrity status did not come from aviation but from her personality, fashion sense, and public persona. Her resemblance to Lindbergh, another celebrity, made her even more famous. She used the platform to speak out on issues of social and political importance. Her distinctive style and fashion sense also made her a recognizable figure and a trendsetter in her time. She also used celebrity endorsements to finance her flying.

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8. Amelia Earhart was the first female aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger

Photo of Amelia Earhart and her husband, George Putnam.  Image by International News Photos –

Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger. In 1928, she flew as a passenger in a Fokker F.VIIb/3m named Friendship from Trepassey, Newfoundland to Burry Port, Wales, with pilots Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon. This historic flight made Earhart an instant celebrity and a symbol of women’s achievement in aviation. However, she was not the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo. While Amelia Earhart is often credited with being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, she was actually the third. The first woman to make the journey was British aviator Amy Johnson in 1930, followed by American aviator Ruth Nichols in 1931.

9. Earhart disappeared without a trace

Earhart disappeared without a trace on July 2, 1937, while attempting to fly around the world with her navigator, Fred Noonan. The pair was on their way to Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean when they lost radio contact and disappeared. Despite an extensive search effort by the United States government and other organizations, no trace of Earhart, Noonan, or their aircraft was ever found. The circumstances of their disappearance remain a mystery to this day, and many theories have been proposed over the years to explain what happened to them.

10. Her plane was ahead of its time

Lockheed Model 10 Electra. Image by Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand –

The plane that Amelia Earhart flew on in her ill-fated attempt to fly around the world was a Lockheed Electra 10E (1930). It was an advanced aircraft for its time, with features such as retractable landing gear and two engines. Despite its advanced design, however, the Electra was not equipped with modern safety features such as a cockpit voice recorder or a flight data recorder, which would have provided valuable information in the event of an accident. This may have contributed to the mystery surrounding Earhart’s disappearance, as the exact circumstances of her final flight remain unknown to this day.

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