Amelia Earhart: the Turbulent Life of an American Icon
Kathleen C. Winters (2010)
TL540 .E3 W57 2010
Kathleen Winters, pilot and aviation historian, traces the life and career of Amelia Earhart. Amelia bought her first plane, a yellow Kinner Aister, named Canary, to perform in air races and other contests that excited Americans about flying. She flew in the Boston area and locals considered her a celebrity. She aimed to set aviation records and created the first New York – Washington commuter flights.
The reader learns that fellow woman pilots considered Amelia an inexperienced pilot, often unprepared, disorganized and willing to take extreme risks such as landing between two power lines. Amelia’s husband, George Putnam, promoted her speaking and appearances as “Lady Lindy.” Today we would consider her activities and first solo flight records, as a marketing campaign to build her image worldwide.
In 1937, Amelia started her flight around the world in Oakland, California with her navigator, Fred Noonan. They flew to Miami, then San Juan, Puerto Rico and continued to Australia following the equator. En route to Howland Island, she and her navigator lost touch with the Itasca, a Coast Guard ship, and never reached the island.
A fascinating book that covers Earhart’s early interest in aviation and the personal history of an American icon.
The library also has a DVD, Amelia Earhart, produced by A & E’s Biography series. DVD TL540 .E37 E37 2005
