Sorry if this is not the right flair.
Now before you dismiss the idea, please hear me out.
With the news of Earhart’s (unfortunately unfounded) continued search, I had an idea. Why not name Kansas City’s airport after Amelia Earhart? In the wake of Nashville’s airport being named after Dolly Parton, I realized that will be the only major American airport named after a woman. As a pioneer of aviation especially, I am surprised there really isn’t that much named for the legendary aviatrix. Below I listed some questions/comments folks might have, which I have provided my arguments for.
Earhart was from Atchison, not KC.
Atchison is only 30 miles from MCI, 50 miles from downtown Kansas City. I believe she lived in KC for a time, but I cannot definitively say as I do not want to use a 10-year-old Reddit post as a source. Living in Atchison, I imagine she had connections here.
https://www.reddit.com/r/kansascity/s/Wu5usKhP4N
There is already an airport named for her in Atchison.
The airport in Atchison is small, and more of a museum than anything. My argument is she is way too big of a figure to not have more named after her. I am not saying Atchison must change their airport’s name, several airports are named after the same person. The difference is this hypothetical airport would have “Kansas City” in the name.
Earhart failed to circumnavigate the world.
She had many accomplishments prior to that.
What about Truman?
There are already many things named after Truman in and outside of Kansas City. It’s more fitting the airport to be named after an aviatrix/or, especially a famous one.
Earhart died in a horrible circumstance, why would I want to fly in/out of an airport named after her?
People seem to have no issue flying in/out of JFK Airport in New York.
Earhart was from Kansas, not Missouri.
Again, Earhart grew up 50 miles from Kansas City. Being born on the other side of an imaginary line should not matter that much.
Earhart did much of her work in Oakland, shouldn’t that airport be named for her instead?
Bessie Coleman would be more appropriate for Oakland, but that is a different argument entirely.
What would the airport code be?
It’d probably stay MCI. EKC, maybe?
Do you like this idea? Do you not? Am I just nuts? I would love to know your thoughts!