In May 1932 Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. This feat, along with her mysterious disappearance over the Pacific Ocean in 1937, made her one of the most famous names in aviation history. But there are other, less well known, pioneering female aviators who also led colourful, dangerous, and often short lives. 10) Sophie Blanchard Nationality - French Sophie and her husband, Jean-Pierre, were early pioneers of hot air ballooning in the days when it was still a novel enough pursuit to draw huge crowds. In 1809 their partnership ending in dramatic fashion when