Amelia Earhart, and her disappearance during her round-the-world attempt (Jul 1937)

Amelia Earhart was an early aviation pioneer who was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She also set quite a few other records in aviation in the early 1930s.

In 1937, she set off on a round-the-world flight in a specially modified Lockheed Model 10E Electra, alongwith navigator Fred Noonan. They left Lau in the Papua New Guinea on 2nd July 1937 heading for a small island called Howland Island in the Pacific, but they never made it. Neither they nor the aircraft has been found so far, despite extensive searches at that time and over the intervening periods. Her legend remains strong, and many countries have issued stamps in honour of Amelia Earhart, who continues to remain a model for aviators today, and women in general.

The Lockheed Model 10E Electra she flew in was registered NR16020. It was one of 15 Model 10Es built by Lockheed, bearing serial no 1055. It was also extensively modified for the circumnavigational flight, with the windows blanked out, additional fuel tanks in the passenger cabin, installation of an autopilot and advanced (for that time) navigational equipment.

Earhart and Noonan began their journey on 1st June 1937, and reached Lae in New Guinea having covered 22000 miles across South America, North Africa, and Asia. From Lae, they were to have a refuelling stop at Howland Island before crossing the Pacific to Hawaii and back to California. It is believed they ran out of fuel and crashed into the Pacific.

This is a tribute page to a brave aviator, and features the stamps issued on her and her aircraft.