Amelia

As a girl on the Kansas prairie, Amelia Earhart dreams of aircraft overhead. The film uses flashbacks to trace her early fascination and how aviation shapes her ambitions. These vignettes establish the roots of her later courage.

In 1928, she is recruited by George Putnam to become the first woman to cross the Atlantic as a passenger. The successful flight thrusts her into the public spotlight as the era's most famous woman pilot. Putnam helps her publish a memoir about the voyage.

Putnam assists Earhart in writing a book chronicling the flight, further elevating her profile. The media attention also solidifies her status as an aviation icon. Their collaboration foreshadows a powerful partnership.

Earhart and Putnam marry, and she plays a role in shaping her image and career. The film notes a cruel pledge in their wedding contract, hinting at the power dynamics of celebrity life. The marriage anchors her life while her freedom remains a constant tension.

In 1932, Earhart recreates her earlier crossing but now flies solo, becoming the first female pilot to complete the feat. The solo flight redefines women's aviation and cements her hero status. The voyage also deepens her commitment to breaking barriers.

Over the next five years, Earhart has an affair with Gene Vidal. Putnam reacts with jealousy and insists his presence at home is necessary for her career. The personal turmoil sits alongside her public mission.

Despite the turmoil, Earhart returns to her husband as she focuses on the next record-breaking quest. She negotiates endorsements and media appearances that fund her flying. Their partnership persists even as tensions simmer.

Earhart plans to fly around the world in a Lockheed Model 10 Electra, with navigator Fred Noonan, funded by Purdue University. The biggest obstacle is locating Howland Island. The combination of veteran aircraft, sponsorship, and ambition sets the stage for a historic attempt.

Their initial attempt ends in a runway crash in Hawaii when the landing gear collapses. The Electra requires extensive repairs before another attempt can be made. The team remains determined to continue despite the setback.

After repairs, Earhart and Noonan launch a second attempt, choosing a reverse direction so the long Pacific crossing comes last. The team relies on sponsorship and careful planning as the clock runs down.

Earhart and Noonan depart Howland Island bound for the next leg of their global circuit on July 2, 1937. The Coast Guard ship Itasca monitors the radio direction finder, but the device has a dead battery and contact remains elusive. Tension grows as fuel levels fall.

Radio troubles intensify as Itasca cannot establish reliable contact with the Electra, leaving Earhart without clear guidance. The flight continues with dwindling fuel, pushing them further into uncertain territory. The sense of vulnerability underscores the peril of the mission.

With fuel exhausted, Earhart and Noonan vanish into the vast Pacific and are never seen again. A massive search is launched but fails to locate them, turning the mystery into a defining moment of aviation lore. Regardless of the outcome, Earhart's disappearance solidifies her status as an enduring aviation icon.

The film closes by highlighting Earhart's legacy as a pioneer who inspired generations of pilots and feminists. Her courage and trailblazing achievements endure beyond the unanswered questions of her disappearance. Earhart remains a symbol of bold exploration and boundary-breaking ambition.