Texan Linda Finch took off March 17 on the first leg of her flight to recreate Amelia Earhart’s attempted around-the-world flight at the equator. Finch will fly a restored, modernized version of the same airplane Earhart used: a Lockheed Electra 10-E. Finch, a millionaire businesswoman who owns nursing homes, found the plane in Wisconsin, had it shipped to Texas and spent two years restoring it.
Earhart disappeared without a trace over the Pacific Ocean during her flight. Thanks to modern communications systems, Finch’s plane will be in constant communication with the ground, and a global-positioning satellite receiver will tell her exactly where she is at all times. Finch will drop a wreath over Howland Island, near where Earhart disappeared.
Updates of the flight will be provided at http:/www.worldflight.org/youcansoar.
