Early Life |
"All I wished to do in the world was to be a vagabond in the air." - Amelia Earhart |
Amelia was born in Atchison, Kansas on July 24, 1897. Her parents, Edwin and Amy Earhart, were always moving from place to place which caused the family to have some financial issues. Her father had a difficulty keeping a job, let alone any promises. She and her sister, Muriel, spent most of her days with her grandparents.
Even when Amelia was young she tackled every chance she could get to try anything. "Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others." -Amelia Earhart stated. Amelia moved from place to place when she was little. She learned to not get too attached to certain things. For awhile, she lived in Toronto with her sister Muriel. "Amelia worked as a volunteer nurse's aide...When she wan't working at the hospital, Amelia often went horseback riding at the edge of the city near the Canadian Flying School. She found herself stopping again and again to watch the air force planes land and take off."-Candace Fleming. Amelia describes the planes as, "Beautiful and thrilling, they were full-sized birds that slid on the hard-packed snow and rose into the air with an extra roar that echoed from the evergreens that banked the edge of the field." This represents one of her first desires to fly. She constantly went back to the flying school and watched the planes soar. Amelia got to know a lot of the fliers just by listening to their stories of bad weather and air battles.
Even when Amelia was young she tackled every chance she could get to try anything. "Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others." -Amelia Earhart stated. Amelia moved from place to place when she was little. She learned to not get too attached to certain things. For awhile, she lived in Toronto with her sister Muriel. "Amelia worked as a volunteer nurse's aide...When she wan't working at the hospital, Amelia often went horseback riding at the edge of the city near the Canadian Flying School. She found herself stopping again and again to watch the air force planes land and take off."-Candace Fleming. Amelia describes the planes as, "Beautiful and thrilling, they were full-sized birds that slid on the hard-packed snow and rose into the air with an extra roar that echoed from the evergreens that banked the edge of the field." This represents one of her first desires to fly. She constantly went back to the flying school and watched the planes soar. Amelia got to know a lot of the fliers just by listening to their stories of bad weather and air battles.
First Flight
Amelia took flying lessons at Kinner Field. Amelia's instructor was Neta Snook. Neta taught her the ropes of how to be a pilot. "She was wholly confident," recalled Neta, "She would just take over and do it." Neta was very cautious on Amelia's ability in becoming a pilot. Just a few months into her flying lessons Amelia decided, "life would be incomplete unless I owned my own plane." She soon after got her first plane and crashed it with in a few days with a new instructor. Thankfully no one was harmed.
Amelia took flying lessons at Kinner Field. Amelia's instructor was Neta Snook. Neta taught her the ropes of how to be a pilot. "She was wholly confident," recalled Neta, "She would just take over and do it." Neta was very cautious on Amelia's ability in becoming a pilot. Just a few months into her flying lessons Amelia decided, "life would be incomplete unless I owned my own plane." She soon after got her first plane and crashed it with in a few days with a new instructor. Thankfully no one was harmed.