Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic?
Quick answer
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean on May 20–21, 1932. She flew a red Lockheed Vega from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, to a pasture near Culmore, Northern Ireland, in about 15 hours, exactly five years after Charles Lindbergh’s famous solo flight.
Key facts
- Born
- July 24, 1897, Atchison, Kansas
- Atlantic solo flight
- May 20–21, 1932
- Aircraft
- Lockheed Vega 5B
- Disappeared
- July 2, 1937, over the central Pacific
The 1932 flight
Earhart battled ice on her wings, a broken altimeter and a leaking fuel line. Unable to reach Paris as planned, she landed in a farmer’s field in Northern Ireland. When a farmhand asked if she’d flown far, she reportedly answered, “From America.”
Her firsts and records
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 1928 | First woman to fly across the Atlantic, but as a passenger, which she said made her feel “like a sack of potatoes” |
| 1932 | First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic |
| 1932 | First woman to fly solo nonstop across the US |
| 1935 | First person to fly solo from Hawaii to California |
She received the US Distinguished Flying Cross, the first woman to do so, and helped found the Ninety-Nines, an organization for women pilots.
The 1937 disappearance
In 1937, Earhart attempted to fly around the world near the equator with navigator Fred Noonan. On July 2, while searching for tiny Howland Island in the Pacific, they lost radio contact. Despite a huge search, the plane was never found. Theories include running out of fuel and crashing at sea, or landing on a remote island such as Nikumaroro. The mystery remains unsolved.
Legacy
Earhart used her fame to encourage women in aviation and careers of all kinds. Many schools, airports and awards bear her name.
For another history-making first, see who reached the South Pole first. For a woman who broke barriers in science, read about Marie Curie.
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