Surfing the Net with Kids: Amelia Earhart » Newsletters

Surfing the Net with Kids

June 20, 1999

Dear Readers,

Welcome back. Happy Father’s Day! Do you enjoy detective
work? Help me find sites that have moved since I reviewed them, and earn
a trophy if you’re successful! A complete list of sites missing-in-action
is available at
Net Detective.

This week’s newsletter is sponsored by:

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Amelia Earhart

Amelia Mary Earhart, the first women to fly solo across the Atlantic,
was born July 24, 1897 at her grandparents’ home in Atchison, Kansas.
Despite her many pioneering achievements, she is best known for her tragic
disappearance over the Pacific on July 2, 1937, halfway to her goal of
circling the globe. Like many today, Earhart believed that technology
would open new worlds for women. Hear her on The
Future of Flying for Women.

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Amelia Earhart
Biography

In 1920, Earhart flew in an open cockpit biplane at an
aerial meet in Long Beach, California. "As soon as we had left the
ground I knew I myself had to fly." She soon began lessons with
another women pilot, Anita "Neta" Snook, in a restored Canadian
training plane. "On April 27, 1926, her life was to change forever .
. . a phone call from Captain H.H. Railey asked, ‘How would you like
to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic?’" This detailed
biography, neatly organized into Early Years, Celebrity and Last Flight, is
my Amelia Earhart pick of the day.

Two
Legends of Aviation

This year marks the seventy-third anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s
solo flight across the Atlantic and the sixty-second anniversary of
Earhart’s disappearance over the Pacific ocean during her attempt to fly
around the world. "Read biographies of Lindbergh and Earhart from the
World Book 1998 Multimedia Encyclopedia, along with articles of the day
concerning the fliers’ exploits. Learn about air navigation and listen to
live conversations between air traffic controllers and pilots at Chicago’s
O’Hare International Airport."

Women in Aviation
History

The Ninety-Nines organization was "founded in 1929
by ninety-nine licensed women pilots for the mutual support and advancement
of aviation." Along with biographical notes on thirteen aviatrixes,
you find this account of the first women’s air race of 1929, written by
Earhart: "Sunday afternoon August 18, nineteen planes with propellers
turning, lined up at Clover Field, Santa Monica, California. Will Rogers
was on the loud speaker to point out the humorous aspects of such an event.
Taking their cue from him, newspaper men coined descriptive names for the
affair before contestants reached their first stop. It was generally called
the ‘powder puff derby’ and those who flew in it variously as
‘Ladybirds,’ ‘Angels’ or ‘Sweethearts of the Air.’ (We are
still trying to get ourselves called just ‘pilots.’)"

Words & Deeds: Amelia Earhart

Discovering obscure tidbits is one of the joys of mining the Internet.
Take look at this: "While the mystery surrounding Earhart’s
disappearance has yet to unfold, one piece of evidence remains to give
insight into Earhart’s adventurous nature. This 1933 palm print of Earhart
taken by palmist Nellie Simmons Meier demonstrates the aviator’s determined
demeanor. As a palmist, Meier analyzed her subjects’ character by examining
the size, shape, and lines of their hands. In 1937 Meier published a
collection of notable palm prints in her book ‘Lions’ Paws: The Story
of Famous Hands.’ She subsequently donated the original prints and
character sketches to the Library of Congress."

You Can Soar

Two years ago, to mark the sixtieth anniversary of Earhart’s ill-fated
around-the-world flight "pilot Linda Finch began World Flight 1997,
her bold expedition to re-create and complete Earhart’s attempted
journey." Follow Finch’s journey, learn about her restored Lockheed
Electra 10E airplane, and explore Earhart’s Life and Times. My favorite
click is the Earhart Photo Album.