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 | WOMAN PILOT TAKES-OFF FROM NEW YORK IN RARE, VINTAGE AIRCRAFT TO RE-CREATE AMELIA EARHART’S RECORD-SETTING 1928 FLIGHT ACROSS AMERICA
Historic flight re-creation to land in 23 cities across the U.S.; flight celebrates Earhart’s pioneering, 17-year career in aviation and her role in inspiring millions of women and girls to pursue their dreams
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Sept. 5, 2001) — Aviatrix Carlene Mendieta today departed from Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y. in a rare, antique aircraft to begin her three-week adventure in re-creating Amelia Earhart’s 1928 record-setting flight across America and back. The flight will land in 23 cities along the historic route and cover approximately 5,500 miles at an average speed of 82 mph. For Earhart, the flight was among her first aviation records and marked the first solo, round-trip transcontinental crossing by a woman. The flight is called "Amelia Earhart’s Flight Across America: Rediscovering A Legend," and is sponsored by St. Paul, Minn.-based HistoricAviation.com.
"Amelia Earhart has inspired generations and millions of women and girls. She made significant contributions to aviation and was a tireless advocate in encouraging women to step outside the social boundaries of the time and pursue their personal interests," said Mendieta (47), a pilot and periodontist from Sonoma, Calif. "What we’re trying to do with this flight, is draw attention to and remember Earhart for her life, not just her disappearance."
Despite her numerous contributions to aviation and women’s achievement, the tragedy of Earhart’s disappearance often lingers as the sole event associated with her life. On July 2, 1937Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in her attempt to circumnavigate the world by airplane.
In re-telling the story of Earhart’s 1928 round-trip flight, Mendieta is landing in the same cities Earhart landed, touching down upon the same grass airstrips where possible, eating the same meals when known and even staying at the same hotels still in business. Mendieta is wearing replica Earhart clothing and has custom-made 1920s-style evening gowns for special events along the route. A Web site, www.AmeliaFlight.com, devoted entirely to the re-creation, is posting flight updates and allows visitors to send Mendieta email.
Mendieta is flying a fully restored 1927 Avro Avian airplane — the exact kind Earhart flew, and today, the only flying Avian in North America. It is painted in the same silver and blue colors to match Earhart’s original airplane and carries the same official U.S. registration number (7083) and British registration (G-EBUG). Earhart’s original Avian has been lost to time and was removed from flying records in the 1930s.
"As a collector of vintage aircraft and a fan of Amelia Earhart, when I had the opportunity to acquire the same kind airplane she flew, made just three weeks before her Avian, I could not resist the opportunity to showcase what was really Amelia’s first solo, long-distance flight and tell the story about that part of her life," said Greg Herrick, owner of the Avro Avian and president of HistoricAviation.com. "Then, when I heard about Carlene Mendieta from other pilots and saw her passion for antique airplanes, I knew I had found the perfect person to re-create this flight."
Flight Route: "Vagabonding" Across America
Earhart’s flight across America took place over a period of two months beginning on August 31, 1928. Earhart described the flight as "vagabonding" on a flying vacation in which she leisurely made her way across the states in time for the 1928 Los Angeles Air Races. Along the route from New York to California and back, Earhart stopped in 23 different cities including: Rye, N.Y.; Bellefonte, Pa.; Pittsburgh; Dayton, Ohio; Terre Haute, Ind.; Belleville, Ill.; Muskogee, Okla.; Fort Worth, Texas; Hobbs, N.M.; Pecos and El Paso, Texas; McNeal, Casa Grande and Yuma, Ariz.; Burbank, Calif.; Las Vegas; Nephi and Salt Lake City, Utah; Cheyenne, Wyo.; North Platte and Omaha, Neb.; Chicago; Cleveland; then back to Bellefonte, Pa. and Rye, N.Y. The flight re-creation is following this route and is expected to be back in Westchester County and Rye, N.Y. on Oct. 2 weather permitting.
Along the route, Mendieta will be welcomed by special events at various airports. In Dayton, Ohio, for example, Mendieta will land at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, the site of the U.S. Air Force Museum. Air Force officials will give Mendieta a private tour on Sept. 6, just as Earhart toured the hangars in 1928. In Muskogee, Okla., the Mayor is re-opening Hatbox Field, a historic airmail airport, so that Mendieta can land just as Earhart did. Mendieta will be also be in the spotlight at Airshow Oklahoma where the Mayor will present her with keys to the city on Sept. 9. On her way back to New York, Mendieta will land at Meigs Field in the heart of Chicago. She’ll be welcomed by thousands as part of the airfield’s open house on Sept. 30.
About Amelia Earhart
Prior to Earhart’s ill-fated 1937 around-the-world attempt, she had already become a household name and role model for millions of women and girls. In 1928, Earhart was flung into the national spotlight when she, as a goodwill passenger representing the United States, became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by airplane. From that point forward, Earhart continued to set aviation records, including becoming the first woman — and only the second person after Charles Lindbergh — to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. When Earhart wasn’t flying, she contributed articles to women’s magazines such as Cosmopolitan; wrote several books; spoke to hundreds of groups around the country; and helped found several professional women’s organizations, including Zonta International and The Ninety-Nines.
About Carlene Mendieta
Mendieta, a periodontist from Sonoma, Calif., is an experienced taildragger* pilot who owns five vintage airplanes. Just like Earhart, Mendieta enjoys working on her airplanes, including the engines, doing much of her own aircraft maintenance. Mendieta enjoys flying out of uncontrolled grass airports in California’s Napa Valley.
About Flight Sponsor HistoricAviation.com
HistoricAviation.com is a St. Paul, Minn.-based international publisher and reseller of thousands of aviation items including books, videos, art and models. Items are available through a mail-order catalog or via the Internet. Visit www.HistoricAviation.com or call 800-225-5575 for more information.
*The term "taildragger" refers to a particular type of aircraft where the landing gear consists of a main landing gear and a tail wheel at the rear of the aircraft.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Photos of the 1927 Avro Avian, 7083 and Carlene Mendieta are available for download in the media center at www.AmeliaFlight.com.
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