By Tim Binnall
In honor of International Women's Day, Lego has released a new set celebrating pioneering pilot Amelia Earhart and her historic 1932 solo transatlantic flight. In a testament to the toy company's vaunted attention to detail, they reportedly consulted actual blueprints for the Lockheed 5B Vega which was the aircraft helmed by the aviatrix during her landmark journey. "It was really important that we kept the model as true to the original as possible," explained lead designer Mel Caddick, "to include the yellow lines, the decorations, and the shape of the plane."
As is customary for most Lego sets, the display also includes one of the toy company's iconic 'minifigures,' in this instance "an exclusive new design especially for" Earhart, depicting the pilot in the flight suit complete with a helmet which sports a pair of goggles. The recognition for the pilot's history-making moment as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic is rather refreshing since her incredible life story is so often overshadowed by her mysterious disappearance five years later while trying to transnavigate the globe. The model is available as a special free 'promotional gift' with a $100 purchase at the Lego website until March 14th while supplies last.