When the name Amelia Earhart is mentioned to anyone familiar with aviation, the name conjures up the story of the historic Amelia Mary Earhart (1897-1937*) who went missing in July of 1937 someplace in the South Pacific Ocean as she attempted to fly around the world.
But there is another Amelia Earhart, this time Amelia Rose Earhart, who also has a story to tell about flying around the world. That story was heard by those who attended the ARRL Midwest Convention Banquet in Sedelia, MO, on Friday evening, Oct 10. The meal at the Banquet was good, the company of fellow hams was great, however it was the keynote speaker that made the banquet special.
Ameila Rose Earhart addressed a full house at the ARRL Midwest Convention Banquet. KSØJD photo.
The modern-day Amelia Earhart told her story of some the challenges and trials she faced in her life, well before her flight around the world—turbulence as she called it.
Just having the name Amelia Earhart caused people to question her if she planned to become a female pilot. Balancing college and multiple part-time jobs, she was able to save up enough to take flying lessons and was licensed as a private pilot in 2004. She related how she struggled with trying to understand if she was family-related to the earlier Amelia Earhart, first being told that she was related, then callously learning she was not related.
Overcoming these periods of turbulence, she was somehow able to convince Pilatus, a Swiss airframe manufacturer, to loan her a brand new, $4,000,000 airplane to fly around the world in. The PC-12 aircraft, a single-engine low-wing turboprop renowned for its efficiency, was outfitted with an extra 200-gallon fuel tank to support long hops on the 24,300 nautical-mile journey. From June 26 to July 11, 2014, with co-pilot Shane Jordan, she flew for 108 hours, becoming the second youngest female pilot to fly around the world.
Having experience as a TV journalist, Amelia’s keynote delivery was smooth and captivating. Her presentations are intended to be inspirational, sending the message that in our lives we will encounter turbulence that we have to be able to navigate around or through. She also indicated she is planning on getting an amateur radio license.
At the convention itself, she had a table set up where attendees could visit with her. Amelia also participated in a forum on Saturday, hosted by former ARRL Midwest Division Director, Rod Blocksome, KØDAS. The forum recapped the history of the search for Amelia’s lost aircraft though the under-sea-exploration organization Nauticos, who Rob has been associated with. More recently, Amelia has also joined the Nauticos team, https://nauticos.com/ .
Assuming that the SPARK club out of Sedilia hosts the convention again next year, Amelia's presentation will be a tough act for the next keynote speaker follow.
*1937 is the assumed year-of-death
See all the pictures of the Banquet and Hamfest in the Club Picture Album.