I was just watching a documentary on Earhart. The documentary said that
most of her fellow pilots "did not consider her to be an exceptional
airman, but she was a good showman". I'd never heard that before,
interesting.


Next month (February or March) I'll be attending a presentation by a fellow
who flew in a 'support' plane (not sure what to call his duties?) along with
Earhart on some of her 'missions'. He's a nice local fellow at one of the
airports I frequent and I'll be interested to hear about his 'reading' of
Earhart as a pilot. I'll share any gems that I hear with the newsgroup.

In a conversation with this fellow, I do remember that he said Amelia would
get a little testy about the press mentioning the 'extra' aircraft in which
he flew since, I guess, she felt it would detract from her accomplishments -
that the press would say; "A male pilot flew in another plane along 'with'
her and that is what 'helped' her with some of her flights" or something
like that to detract from her accomplishments as a woman - who knows?

Only question I would have about the comments you saw would be separating
how much of the analysis of her flying was truly objective or simply male
chauvinism of the times towards her being a female pilot (i.e.,, to be
honest, I really don't know - I'd like to expect though that she would be
fairly 'weighed' as any other fellow male pilot, but I don't know for sure).

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Good Flights!

Cecil
PP-ASEL-IA
Student - CP-ASEL

Check out my personal flying adventures from my first flight to the
checkride AND the continuing adventures beyond!
Complete with pictures and text at: www.bayareapilot.com

"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery -

"We who fly, do so for the love of flying. We are alive in the air with
this miracle that lies in our hands and beneath our feet"
- Cecil Day Lewis -