Museum of Women Pilots opens new exhibit
This article originally appeared in the Ada Evening News on May 21, 2007
OKLAHOMA CITY – This year marks two special anniversaries in aviation history – the 75th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s Atlantic crossing and the 70th anniversary of her disappearance. To commemorate, the Ninety-Nines Museum of Women Pilots opened a new exhibit on May 17 that highlights some of her personal treasures.
On May 20, 1932, Amelia Earhart set out from Harbor Grace in Newfoundland, Canada. Over 2,000 miles and 13.5 hours later, she landed near Londonderry, Ireland as the first woman and second person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Five years later on July 2, she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean during an attempt to circumnavigate the world. Despite numerous searches, Amelia and her plane were never found. To this day, she is known by many to be the greatest female pilot in history.
“When Amelia Earhart set out on her legendary trip, she probably didn’t realize just how big of an impact she would have on the future of aviation,” said Margie Richison, chairman of the Ninety-Nines Museum of Women Pilots. “One of the museum’s missions is to inspire children to pursue a career in aviation. The anniversary is the perfect time to unveil our new exhibit highlighting an inspirational figure in the aviation industry.”
The Ninety-Nines Museum of Women Pilots has in its collection some of Earhart’s most valuable possessions which are included in the new anniversary exhibit.
Earhart always carried her lucky bracelet and scarf with her on long-distance flights, but left them with her mother when she took her last flight around the world. Now the bracelet and scarf are reverently displayed at the museum alongside Earhart’s pilot’s license, navigation charts and voice and video recordings.
The Ninety-Nines Museum of Women Pilots, located near Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, has another very special connection to this legendary aviatrix.
She was the organization’s first elected president. The Air Race Classic was started in 1929 because women were not allowed to compete in the Men’s Cleveland Air Race. After the first Air Race Classic, the women met under the bleachers and decided to start an organization. They agreed to send a letter to every woman pilot in the United States, only 117 at the time. Ninety-Nine women responded and so began the international organization which is headquartered in Oklahoma City.
“Amelia laid the groundwork for women to pursue their dreams,” said Richison. “At a time when women pilots were almost unheard of, she was flying right alongside the men and setting records with the best of them. She had the courage to fly at record speeds into the face of adversity and is still inspiring women 75 years later.”
According to the FAA Airmen Certification Branch, women represent only about six percent of the total pilot population.
“Although women have made significant progress in the aviation industry, they still have a long way to go,” said Richison. “The history of women in aviation plays a significant role in inspiring young women around the world from diverse cultures to pursue their dreams and consider a career in the field of aviation. With a little help from our friend Amelia, the Ninety-Nines Museum of Women Pilots is doing our part to assure the history of women in aviation will live on to inspire generations to come.”
To celebrate the exhibit opening, 5th grade students from All Saints Catholic School in Norman studied Amelia Earhart and her historical cross-Atlantic flight, created posters and attended the exhibit opening on May 17.
For more information about the Amelia Earhart exhibit, call (405) 685-9990.