This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/28/2018
Most people know of Amelia Earhart for the accomplishments she made with airplanes. However, she also had a significant impact on the development of the gyroplane and other rotorcrafts. On December 19, 1930, she went on a test flight in an autogyro and became the first female autogyro pilot in the world. Amelia's instruction on the Pitcairn-Cierva PCA-2 autogyro, given by Pitcairn's test pilot, James G. Ray, consisted of 20 minutes of flying around the Pitcairn company's Willow Grove, PA field and two landings. Ray told her to fly the craft and she took off, later admitting she didn't know "whether I flew it or it flew me". Offered here is a stupendous 5" x 5.5" photograph of Amelia Earhart & James G. Ray posing with the autogyro before Earhart's first flight in the machine on that day. The photograph has been signed by both pilots in steel tip ink - "Sincerely yours, James G. Ray, 1/26/31" and "Amelia Earhart". In fine condition with one vertical crease and some minor handling wear. An incredible dual-signed photograph commemorating a significant event in aviation history! Accompanied by a full Letter of Authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services (BAS).