Tenía el rostro altivo, el cuerpo de una atleta y el alma cautivada por la aventura. Nadie pudo decirle nunca lo que podía o no podía hacer con su vida. Fue una mujer atípica para ese primer tercio del siglo XX en el que le tocó vivir y sentir, y que hizo suyo a golpe de efecto. Amelia Earhart vivió la era dorada de la aviación, cuando se hacían descubrimientos y se superaban marcas todos los días, marcas que ella siempre conseguía batir con tesón y una voluntad de hierro.
Amelia Earhart desapareció en el cielo justo al cumplir los cuarenta años. Aún era joven, hermosa y aguerrida, pero dar la vuelta al mundo en avión iba a ser su última aventura. Lo había decidido poco antes de su último despegue, ese que la alejó de la tierra para siempre y la encumbró a la leyenda, donde su misteriosa desaparición sigue alimentando teorías sobre lo que realmente les pasó a ella y a su navegante, Fred Noonan, aquella tarde de julio de 1937.
Dicen los que la conocieron que era fuerte, carismática y muy testaruda, cualidades que la llevaron pronto a ser lo que fue: la mujer más reconocida en el mundo de la aviación, cuando éste era un terreno debidamente acotado al género masculino. Y fue decidida, por eso, desde que voló por primera vez a los 22 años supo que aquélla iba a ser su vida. Llamó la atención casi desde el principio, y no sólo por su porte de acróbata alemana, sino por esas ganas suyas de no ponerse límites nunca, de llegar siempre un poco más alto que los demás.
Amelia fue decidida y fue valiente. Tras sus primeros vuelos, en los que ya había hecho caer varios récords de altitud y resistencia, la eligieron para ser la primera mujer en realizar un viaje en avión que cruce el Atlántico. El vuelo se llevó a cabo en 1928, sólo un año después del primer viaje transoceánico, efectuado por Charles Lindbergh (con quien, por cierto, Amelia guardaba un asombroso parecido físico que le concedió el apelativo de ‘Lady Lindy’), y ahí la Earhart fue una mera pasajera, pero fue la primera pasajera mujer, la primera en atreverse a hacer ese largo, pesado y arriesgado viaje (para la época era casi tan peligroso como lo es hoy un viaje espacial). El promotor de tal aventura, George Palmer Puttman, un editor neoyorquino, fue quien la había escogido y quien comenzó a hacer de representante de la intrépida aviadora.
A su regreso a los Estados Unidos, a Amelia sólo le rondaba una idea por la cabeza: intentar el mismo itinerario, pero esta vez pilotando ella su propio avión y hacerlo completamente sola. Desde Lindbergh nadie había cruzado el Atlántico sin escalas en solitario. Ella lo haría y no sólo eso, ya que mejoraría notablemente el tiempo de su colega varón, todo un hito para la época. Para entonces se había hecho tan popular, que en 1935 fue elegida la mujer más conocida de Estados Unidos, sólo superada por Eleanor Roosevelt.
En la cima de su popularidad, Amelia decidió acometer su misión más arriesgada: daría la vuelta al mundo en avión, algo que nadie había siquiera imaginado en aquellos años. Para llevar a cabo semejante empresa contrató a Fredrick J. Noonan, con mucha experiencia en viajes sobre el océano y uno de los mejores ayudantes de vuelo que pudo encontrar.
La primera idea de Amelia era hacer el recorrido del planeta de Este a Oeste, saliendo hacia el Atlántico y regresando sobre las aguas del Pacífico. Pero un accidente en los preparativos les hace retrasarse y varían el itinerario, para evitar la climatología adversa de los monzones. Parten finalmente en mayo de 1939 de Florida.
El viaje discurrió según todos los parámetros previstos hasta despegar de su última escala, Lae, en Nueva Guinea. Fue un 2 de julio, y les separaban 7.000 millas de Estados Unidos, las últimas 7.000 millas después de haber recorrido ya más de 22.000… pero éstas últimas son todas sobre el Pacífico y el peligro es notable. Lo último que se supo de ellos fue una transmisión hablando de la escasez de combustible y luego, el silencio.
Se les buscó con intensidad, incluso por petición expresa del presidente Roosevelt, que puso a disposición de la causa 9 barcos y 66 aviones. Pero todo fue inútil. Como ocurriera con Saint-Exúpery algunos años más tarde, el misterio rodeó la desaparición de avión y ocupantes, sin que nada se supiera de ellos por más empeño que se puso en ello. El autor de ‘El Principito’ fue sacado de las aguas sesenta años después de perderse en ellas, pero de Amalia sigue sin saberse realmente qué le pasó en aquella madrugada de julio. Ella y su copiloto, Noonan, entraron a formar parte de la leyenda negra de la aviación, que se cobró sus vidas en misteriosas circunstancias. Hoy un museo, su loado recuerdo y la idea de echar luz sobre el asunto, aún mueven a numerosos enamorados de Amalia y su bravura en el mundo entero
She had his face haughty, an athlete's body and soul captivated by the adventure. No one could never tell what they could or could not do with your life. A woman was atypical for that first third of the twentieth century in which he lived and felt, and endorsed a coup indeed. Amelia Earhart lived the golden era of aviation, when discoveries were made and brands exceeded every day, brands that she always managed to beat them with determination and an iron will.
Amelia Earhart disappeared into the sky just when they turn forty years. I was still young, beautiful and hardened, but around the world by air would be her last adventure. We had decided shortly before his last-off, that that left the land forever and rise to the legend, where his mysterious disappearance continues to feed theories about what really happened to her and her navigator, Fred Noonan, that afternoon July 1937.
They say those who knew that there was a strong, charismatic and very stubborn, qualities that led quickly to what it was: the most recognized women in the world of aviation, when he was a limited field due to male gender. And it was decided, therefore, since she flew for the first time at age 22 knew that it would be her life. He drew attention almost from the beginning, and not only because of his habit of German acrobat, but for those eager not to endorse limits ever, always reaching a little higher than others.
Amelia was determined and was brave. After their first flights, which had already dropped several records in altitude and endurance, to be elected the first woman to make a trip by plane to cross the Atlantic. The flight was conducted in 1928, just one year after the first transoceanic voyage, conducted by Charles Lindbergh (who, incidentally, Amelia kept a striking physical resemblance that gave him the nickname of ( Lady Lindy ), and hence the Earhart was a mere passenger, but it was the first woman passenger, the first to dare to make such a lengthy, cumbersome and risky journey (for the season was almost as dangerous as it is today a space travel). The promoter of this adventure, George Palmer Puttman, a New Yorker editor, who had been chosen and I began to do as the representative of the intrepid aviator.
On her return to the United States, to Amelia just around the head by an idea: try the same route, but this time she pilots her own plane and do it all alone. Since no one had Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic nonstop solo. She would do and not only that, as it would significantly enhance the time of her fellow man, a milestone for the season. By then it had become so popular, which in 1935 was elected the best known women in the United States, second only to Eleanor Roosevelt.
At the peak of her popularity, Amelia decided to undertake its mission more risky: would the world tour by plane, something that no one had even imagined in those years. To carry out such a company hired Fredrick J. Noonan, with a lot of experience in travel over the ocean and one of the best assistants flight she could find.
The first idea was to make Amelia tour of the planet from East to West, going out into the Atlantic and back on the waters of the Pacific. But an accident in preparing them to be delayed and vary the route to avoid the adverse weather of the monsoon. Finally split in May 1939 in Florida.
The trip discurrió as all the parameters to take off from its last stop, Lae, New Guinea. It was a July 2, 7000 miles separating them from the United States, the last 7000 miles after having already traveled more than 22,000 ... but the latter are all over the Pacific and the danger is remarkable. The last thing we knew of them was talking about a transfer of fuel shortages and then, silence.They were sought with intensity, even at the express request of President Roosevelt, which was made available to the cause 9 boats and 66 aircraft. But it was all useless. As happened with Saint-Exupery few years later, the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the plane and occupants, nothing was known of them for more effort that was put into this. The author of " The Little Prince " was taken from the waters sixty years after getting lost in them, but Amalia is still not known what really happened that morning in July. She and her co-pilot, Noonan, became part of the black legend of aviation, which claimed their lives in mysterious circumstances. Now a museum, praised the idea of remembrance and shed light on the matter, even moving to numerous lovers Amalia and her bravery in the world
Amelia Earhart disappeared into the sky just when they turn forty years. I was still young, beautiful and hardened, but around the world by air would be her last adventure. We had decided shortly before his last-off, that that left the land forever and rise to the legend, where his mysterious disappearance continues to feed theories about what really happened to her and her navigator, Fred Noonan, that afternoon July 1937.
They say those who knew that there was a strong, charismatic and very stubborn, qualities that led quickly to what it was: the most recognized women in the world of aviation, when he was a limited field due to male gender. And it was decided, therefore, since she flew for the first time at age 22 knew that it would be her life. He drew attention almost from the beginning, and not only because of his habit of German acrobat, but for those eager not to endorse limits ever, always reaching a little higher than others.
Amelia was determined and was brave. After their first flights, which had already dropped several records in altitude and endurance, to be elected the first woman to make a trip by plane to cross the Atlantic. The flight was conducted in 1928, just one year after the first transoceanic voyage, conducted by Charles Lindbergh (who, incidentally, Amelia kept a striking physical resemblance that gave him the nickname of ( Lady Lindy ), and hence the Earhart was a mere passenger, but it was the first woman passenger, the first to dare to make such a lengthy, cumbersome and risky journey (for the season was almost as dangerous as it is today a space travel). The promoter of this adventure, George Palmer Puttman, a New Yorker editor, who had been chosen and I began to do as the representative of the intrepid aviator.
On her return to the United States, to Amelia just around the head by an idea: try the same route, but this time she pilots her own plane and do it all alone. Since no one had Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic nonstop solo. She would do and not only that, as it would significantly enhance the time of her fellow man, a milestone for the season. By then it had become so popular, which in 1935 was elected the best known women in the United States, second only to Eleanor Roosevelt.
At the peak of her popularity, Amelia decided to undertake its mission more risky: would the world tour by plane, something that no one had even imagined in those years. To carry out such a company hired Fredrick J. Noonan, with a lot of experience in travel over the ocean and one of the best assistants flight she could find.
The first idea was to make Amelia tour of the planet from East to West, going out into the Atlantic and back on the waters of the Pacific. But an accident in preparing them to be delayed and vary the route to avoid the adverse weather of the monsoon. Finally split in May 1939 in Florida.
The trip discurrió as all the parameters to take off from its last stop, Lae, New Guinea. It was a July 2, 7000 miles separating them from the United States, the last 7000 miles after having already traveled more than 22,000 ... but the latter are all over the Pacific and the danger is remarkable. The last thing we knew of them was talking about a transfer of fuel shortages and then, silence.They were sought with intensity, even at the express request of President Roosevelt, which was made available to the cause 9 boats and 66 aircraft. But it was all useless. As happened with Saint-Exupery few years later, the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the plane and occupants, nothing was known of them for more effort that was put into this. The author of " The Little Prince " was taken from the waters sixty years after getting lost in them, but Amalia is still not known what really happened that morning in July. She and her co-pilot, Noonan, became part of the black legend of aviation, which claimed their lives in mysterious circumstances. Now a museum, praised the idea of remembrance and shed light on the matter, even moving to numerous lovers Amalia and her bravery in the world
