There are so many historical figures that wouldn’t have achieved what they had without the talented teachers they learned from.
For instance, many people learn the story of Amelia Earhart, the iconic aviation pioneer. But not enough people talk about Neta Snook, the first woman aviator to open her own aviation business and who tutored Amelia Earhart on aviation.
Neta was born in 1896 in Mount Carroll, Illinois. Neta was interested in machines and mechanical things at a young age, learning all about automobiles and their inner workings from her father.
When she was a teenager, her family moved to Iowa, and she attended Iowa State College. There, she studied mechanical drawing and learned more about engines and machinery repair.
During her college years, Neta started applying to aviation schools but would be turned down because of her gender.
Finally, in 1917, she became the first woman accepted to the Davenport School of Aviation. She put in as many hours as possible, but her time at the school was cut short due to a terrible crash.
She then studied at the Curtiss-Wright Aviation School in Virginia. Although her time there was broken up due to World War I, she completed her training there and became a pilot.
Neta then bought herself a wrecked training plane from Canada and shipped it to Iowa so she could repair it and practice her flying skills.
Finally, after two years, she was able to fly it solo in 1920. Although her license didn’t allow it, Neta would fly sightseers and tourists around on her plane to make some money.
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Neta realized that she couldn’t fly her plane year-round in the midwest because of the winters, so she decided to disassemble her plane and ship it to Los Angeles, California.
When she arrived in Los Angeles in 1920, Neta approached aircraft engine designer Bert Kinner to ask if she could work at his new airport, Kinner Fields, as a flight instructor and for full commercial airfield use. There, she became the first woman to run a commercial airfield and the first woman to run her own aviation business.
In January 1921, Amelia Earhart and her father arrived at Kinner Fields. Amelia approached Neta and asked if she’d teach her how to fly. Amelia quickly became Neta’s student, and they also formed a great friendship. They worked closely together for over a year.
After Amelia disappeared in 1937, Neta began telling stories about Amelia’s life and their friendship, eventually publishing an autobiography titled I Taught Amelia To Fly.
She retired from flying after she got married in 1922 but flew publicly to pilot a replica of the Spirit of St. Louis in 1977. Neta passed away at age 95 in March 1991. She was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame one year later.
Neta’s story is a great reminder of how much we need to appreciate the remarkable teachers in our lives.
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