Amelia Earhart: The Iconic Aviatrix

After her June 1928 transatlantic flight with Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon, in which she became the first woman to fly the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart was given a hero's welcome wherever she went. Receptions in Southampton and London, England, were followed by a ticker-tape parade through New York City and a visit with President Calvin Coolidge at the White House.

Amelia Earhart was congratulated by explorer Richard Byrd for her 1928 flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Earhart, riding as a passenger with pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Louis Gordon, made the crossing in a Fokker F.VII Tri-Motor airplane. Byrd used a similar Fokker on his North Pole flight in 1926.

After becoming the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in 1928, Amelia Earhart was immediately -- inevitably -- compared to the similarly lanky Charles Lindbergh, whose 1927 solo transatlantic flight made him the world's most famous pilot. For his part, Lindbergh appreciated all that "Lady Lindy" did to bring press attention to aviation -- and to take it off him.

Skilled aviatrix Amelia Earhart came to national attention in 1928, when she was invited to become the first woman to fly the Atlantic--as a passenger. Wilmer Stutz flew the plane, with Louis Gordon as co-pilot, as the trio made their challenging--and successful--journey from Newfoundland to Wales. Upon her return, Earhart received this sporty automobile from Chrysler Corporation.

Amelia Earhart took her first airplane ride in 1920. From then on, she devoted her life to flight. Earhart set records, made headlines and became one of the world's most famous pilots. Her speeches supported the growing aviation industry, and her product endorsements helped fund her flying. Earhart's disappearance during her around-the-world flight attempt in 1937 added to her mystique.

In 1928, publisher and publicist George Palmer Putnam began to heavily promote aviatrix Amelia Earhart through a book, lecture tours, and product endorsements. These activities not only provided Earhart's chief source of income, but also enhanced her fame. Putman and Earhart's partnership flourished, both professionally and personally--in February 1931, they married.

After her June 1928 transatlantic flight with Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon, in which she became the first woman to fly the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart was given a hero's welcome wherever she went. Receptions in Southampton and London, England, were followed by a ticker-tape parade through New York City and a visit with President Calvin Coolidge at the White House.

Amelia Earhart used her fame to advance the cause of aviation -- especially the work of women in the field. She gave speeches, wrote books and articles, and was a founding member of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization devoted to supporting women in aviation. Earhart also took an active role in promoting the budding passenger airline industry.

Amelia Earhart, famous for the 1928 flight that made her the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, helped inaugurate transcontinental airline service in 1929. She posed with a Ford Tri-Motor in New York City's Pennsylvania Station. This early service had passengers traveling by train at night and by airplane during daylight. Total travel time to California was 51 hours.

Amelia Earhart--the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic--launched a fashion line in 1934. The garments--with simple lines and mid-range prices--were inspired by Earhart's interest in functional clothing for active living. The brand's label featured Earhart's signature, along with a soaring red plane. Despite publicity garnered by Earhart's foray into clothing design, the line didn't catch on with the public.

Famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart launched a fashion line in 1934. The garments--with simple lines and mid-range prices--were inspired by Earhart's interest in functional clothing for active living. For those who couldn't afford the ready-made versions, sewing patterns for some of Earhart's designs were available through Woman's Home Companion magazine. Page 33 of this issue features an Earhart two-piece dress.

Celebrities are a longstanding tradition at the Indianapolis 500. Actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, and automotive industry leaders all have played various ceremonial roles in the race's festivities. Amelia Earhart served as an honorary referee at the 1935 race. The pace car that year was a Ford Model 48 convertible sedan, driven by Ford executive Harry Mack.

Amelia Earhart married publisher George P. Putnam on February 7, 1931. She was a reluctant bride, fearing that marriage would derail her career. Earhart kept her last name and insisted on an equal partnership with her husband. Putnam agreed and the couple's relationship was professional as much as it was romantic. Earhart's husband supported her aviation activities and promoted them vigorously.

Amelia Earhart's enduring fame is due in part to the mysterious nature of her disappearance. Since her failure to reach Howland Island in 1937, Earhart has been memorialized in poems, plays, novels, songs, and films. Many theories on her fate have been proposed but, whatever happened on that last flight, Earhart's life remains a source of inspiration today.

Famed aviator Amelia Earhart needed money to finance her flying--product endorsements provided a way. Introduced in 1933, the Amelia Earhart luggage line--marketed as "real aeroplane" luggage--was sturdy and lightweight. It sold well for decades--long after her 1937 disappearance attempting an around-the-world flight. Amelia Earhart's "brand" remained strong. Her name could still sell.