Read Amelia Earhart's 1933 Advice To A Teen Girl Who Wanted To Be A Pilot

"I should certainly not discourage you."
Underwood Archives via Getty Images

An encouraging letter Amelia Earhart wrote to a 13-year-old female fan in 1933 has resurfaced in 2016.

The note, in which Earhart gives some solid advice to a teen who hopes to become a pilot, is currently for sale with the Philadelphia-based Raab Collection. (Scroll down to read the letter in full.)

Earhart broke new ground for women in aviation when she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic ocean in 1932. Given that major accomplishment, she knew a thing or two about breaking into a male-dominated industry.

In the 1933 letter, Earhart explained the steps required to become a pilot. She advised her fan to have a physical examination from a physician in the Department of Commerce before being cleared to fly. Then, if taking flying lessons wasn't feasible, Earhart encouraged her to enter the aviation industry by other means, by doing clerical work or working in factories. She also offers to answer any other questions her teen fan has.

Earhart anticipated that, like other male-dominated industries, the field of aviation would soon progress in its opportunities for women:

As far as a woman's opportunities in flying go I think they will improve as they have in all industries. Just now there are no pilots on the regular scheduled airlines. Some day I suspect there will be.

Earhart was only 24 years old when she began flying lessons in 1921, and purchased her first plane at 31 years old in 1928.

The letter, which can be purchased from The Raab Collection for $15,000, was written in 1933, just four years before Earhart disappeared in her attempt to fly solo around the world.

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