In June 1937 Amelia Earhart took to the skies in her Lockheed 10E Electra to become the
first pilot to fly round-the-world at its longest point, the equator. She never accomplished
her dream. She and her navigator, Fred Noonan disappeared after leaving Lae, New Guinea never
reaching their next stop at Howland Island. On July 2, 1937 President Roosevelt authorized a
search but on July 18th the search was abandoned. Amelia and Fred were lost forever. The
world has formulated their legacy namely, "that limits are most times more perceived than
real. Don't accept limits imposed by society, believe in yourself, accomplish your dreams."
Sixty years later Linda Finch would accomplish her dream to follow in Amelia's footsteps
completing Amelia's unfinished round-the-world flight in a similar Lockheed 10E Electra. Her
round-the-world flight was called, "World Flight 1997." The engine manufacturer, Pratt and
Whitney sponsored Linda's flight. Her navigator was Gianfranco "Denny" Ghiringhelli.
Finch's almost three-month flight included dropping a wreath over Howland Island. She
flew round-the-world 26,004 nautical miles, touched down on six continents and made 34 stops
in 18 countries.
Itinerary: (under construction)
Departed Oakland, CA 03/17/97
Burbank, CA
Tucson, AZ
New Orleans, LA
West Palm Beach, FL
Miami, FL 03/31/97
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Cumana, Venezuela
Paramaribo, Suriname
Fontaleza, Brazil
Natal, Brazil
Saint Louis, Senegal
Dakar, Senegal
Gao, Mail
N'Djamena, Chad
El Fasher, Sudan
Massawa, Ethiopia
Assab, Ethiopia
Karachi, Pakistan
Calcutta, India
Akyab, Burma
Rangoon, Burma
Bangkok, Thailand
Singapore
Bandung, Indonesia
Surabya, Indonesia
Kupang, Indonesia
Darwin, Australia 05/08-14/97
Lae, New Guinea
Howland Island Droped a wreath.
Honolulu, HI
Arrived Oakland, CA 05/28/97