Amelia Earhart in front of her Lockheed Vega, “Old Bessy” in 1935. She had been awarded the 16th pilot’s license ever issued to a woman little more than a decade prior.Among her many record breaking flights, Amelia Earhart made the first solo flight from Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California, as well as the first nonstop flight from Mexico City to New York.In 1936, Amelia Earhart began preparations for her around-the-world flight attempt.To that end, a special Lockheed Electra 10E was built and modified specifically for the trip.The aircraft was modified to hold an exceptionally large fuel tank for the journey – which was planned to be the world’s longest attempt, covering some 29,000 miles.Experienced navigator Fred Noonan was selected to accompany Amelia Earhart on the trip.The pair departed from Oakland, California, for their first leg of the flight on St. Patrick’s day in 1937.After taking off from Hawaii for the second leg of the flight, Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Electra suffered severe damage, resulting in a cancellation of the flight attempt.Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan soon embarked on a second attempt, however, this time heading west to east.Beginning in California, the journey took them to South America, Africa and South East Asia.By the time they made it to New Guinea, they had covered 22,000 miles, well over more than half the trip.On July 2, Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan took off in pursuit of Howland Island. They never made it to their destination however, and their last known position was over the Nukumanu Islands.Theories surrounding their disappearance continue today, with the predominant belief being that the Electra ran out of fuel and Earhart and Noonan attempted to ditch the aircraft at sea.Another group, however, is exploring the theory that the pair made an emergency landing near the islando of Nikumaroro and maintained a castaway presence there for some time.Read more on that theory and other developments surrounding the search for Amelia Earhart here.
