table of contents Wings Across the Atlantic Into the Storm The Dangers Mount A Safe Landing More About Amelia Earhart Glossary To Learn More Index 4 8 12 18 22 23 24 24 Red text identifies historical quotes
wings across the atlantic May 20 1932 7 12 p m A Lockheed Vega 5B airplane takes off from Harbour Grace Newfoundland The pilot Amelia Earhart is trying to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean Until today Amelia’s plans had been kept secret She wanted to avoid added stress before her trip Her secret also kept other women from attempting the flight before her In 1927 Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean The next year Amelia became the first woman to cross the Atlantic in a plane as a passenger 4 Many people do not believe a woman can complete the dangerous trip alone Others have already tried and failed Amelia is ready to prove her critics wrong
To prepare for the flight Amelia hired pilot Bernt Balchen and mechanic Eddie Gorski to make improvements to the Vega The men spent weeks testing the plane That new Wasp engine should help too fuselage This is a lot stronger than it was before Now we can add more fuel tanks for the long trip New navigation instruments were added to the Vega If Amelia flies into a storm she will have to rely on these instruments to find her way HARBOUR GRACE NEWFOUNDLAND If all goes well Amelia hopes to land in France at the same place Lindbergh landed five years before Where is she headed PARIS FRANCE France after soaring over Ireland If her plane is in good condition that is Amelia’s husband George Putnam reveals her plans to the press 5
