MEDIA ALERT/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
WOMAN PILOT BEGINS RE-CREATION OF AMELIA EARHART’S
RECORD-SETTING 1928 FLIGHT ACROSS AMERICA SEPTEMBER 5 IN WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.
Three-week journey will replicate Earhart’s historic 5,500-mile round-trip crossing of America in rare, vintage 1927 Avro Avian, touching down in 23 U.S. cities along the way.
WHAT: To celebrate and share the powerful story of Amelia Earhart’s life and the first solo, round-trip flight by a woman across America and back, 47-year-old pilot Carlene Mendieta (Sonoma, Calif.) will re-create Earhart’s 1928 solo flight across America.
Wearing authentic 1920s-style aviatrix clothing, including jodhpurs, goggles, helmet and leather flying jacket, Mendieta will fly approximately 5,500 miles 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). Mendieta intends to stop in the same 23 U.S. cities Earhart visited, replicating Earhart’s landings on grass airstrips and small town main streets when possible. Mendieta will eat at the same restaurants Earhart visited and sleep at the places where Earhart slept where available. Mendieta’s re-creation is called "Amelia Earhart’s Flight Across America: Rediscovering a Legend," and is sponsored by HistoricAviation.com
WHERE/WHEN: Westchester County Airport, in front of the hangar at Westair, adjacent to the Westchester Control Tower, (for specific directions, call 914-946-0100)
136 Tower Road
White Plains, N.Y.
6:30 a.m.: Pre-take-off press conference with Carlene Mendieta
7:00 a.m.: Estimated take-off
VISUALS:
* Mendieta, dressed in Amelia Earhart replica clothing, standing in front of the Avian preparing for take-off.
* 1927 Avro Avian with Earhart’s official U.S. registration number and its original British registration.
* A crewmember hand-propping the airplane (starting the airplane by hand).
* Mendieta climbing into the airplane’s open cockpit and waving to well-wishers as she ventures west.
* Mendieta and the Avian taking off and flying west to its first stop: Bellefonte, Pa.
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 was 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.
###
