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 | Three-week flight to culminate with landing at the Westchester Country Airport in White Plains, N.Y.; Flight replicates Earhart’s historic 5,500-mile round-trip crossing of America in rare, vintage 1927 aircraft
WHAT: Aviatrix, Carlene Mendieta (47 of Sonoma, Calif.), returning to the Westchester County Airport after successfully re-creating Amelia Earhart's 1928 record-setting flight across America and back. Mendieta is returning almost one month after her departure from the airport on Sept. 5, 2001, with scores of stories about the flight and the people she met along the way.
Upon completing the 5,500 nautical mile journey, Mendieta will have landed in the exact same 23 cities as Earhart did, as she made her way from Westchester County, N.Y. to Glendale, Calif. and back. Mendieta’s re-creation is called "Amelia Earhart’s Flight Across America: Rediscovering a Legend," and is sponsored by HistoricAviation.com.
Mendieta has been flying at an average speed of 82 mph in the exact same kind of airplane Earhart flew – a 1927 Avro Avian, the only flying airplane of its kind in North America. The airplane is painted in the same silver and blue colors, carrying Earhart’s official U.S. registration number (7083) and its original British registration (G-EBUG). When possible, Mendieta has even been eating at the same restaurants Earhart visited and sleeping at the places where Earhart slept.
Earhart, a pioneer in aviation and an advocate for women's achievement, is most often remembered for her disappearance over the Pacific Ocean in 1937. This flight re-creation has been an attempt to draw attention to Earhart's life and contributions to society. Since departure, Mendieta has received more than 500 emails of encouragement and the flight Web site, www.AmeliaFlight.com, received more than one million hits.
WHERE/WHEN:
Tuesday, October 2
Westchester County Airport, in front of the hangar at Westair,
next to the Control Tower (for specific directions, call Westair at 914-946-0100)
136 Tower Road
White Plains, N.Y.
Estimated arrival time: 2:30 p.m. Eastern – Mendieta will address the crowd after her arrival
VISUALS:
- Mendieta, dressed in Amelia Earhart replica clothing, taxing up to the Westair hangar.
- 1927 Avro Avian with Earhart’s official U.S. registration number and its original British registration.
- Mendieta climbing out of the cockpit, being greeted by flight followers.
BACKGROUND:
In 1937, the world lost Amelia Earhart, an amazing and popular icon as she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in her attempt to circumnavigate the globe in her Lockheed Electra aircraft. Despite Earhart’s numerous contributions to aviation and women’s achievement, today the tragedy of her disappearance lingers as the sole event associated with her life.
Before her around-the-world attempt, Earhart had already become a household name and inspirational 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 by airplane. From that point forward, Earhart continued to set many aviation records including becoming the first woman – and only the second person – to solo the Atlantic by air. Through her aviation career, public speaking and writing, Earhart challenged popular notions of women’s roles in society and in aviation in particular.
"Amelia Earhart’s Flight Across America: Rediscovering a Legend" is sponsored by Historic Aviation, a St. Paul-based international publisher and reseller of thousands of aviation items including books, videos, art and models. For more information, visit www.HistoricAviation.com. For more information on the flight route, visit www.AmeliaFlight.com.
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