Private Lockheed 10 Electra NR16020

Photographer's remark
(29.1.2014, 20:51 CET)
The Museum of Flight installed the Lockheed Model 10-E Electra flown by Linda Finch in 1997 when she recreated Amelia Earhart's final flight! See the Electra in the Great Gallery today! The Museum’s Electra—originally registered as NC14900—began its long career in 1935 when it was delivered to Northwest Airlines. After the United States entered World War II in 1941, the aircraft was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Forces where it served as a VIP transport. After the war, it also saw service as an airliner and as part of the Brazilian Air Force. The Museum’s Electra is perhaps best known as the plane flown by pilot Linda Finch when she retraced and completed Amelia Earhart’s planned flight around the world in 1997. Pilot, Linda Finch faithfully restored this Electra to match the one Amelia Earhart was piloting when she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while trying to fly around the world in 1937. Finch included the same modifications, such as additional fuel tanks and blanked out cabin windows. She painted the Electra to match Earhart’s, and even secured the same historical registration number for the plane—NR16020. Finch flew the plane while retracing Amelia’s round-the-world route in 1997. She took off from Oakland, California on March 17, the 60th anniversary of the start of Earhart’s attempted flight. She followed the original route as closely as possible but made a few changes when necessary. Finch did not receive permission to overfly Libya. She had to make a few extra stops while crossing the Pacific. She also could not land at Howland Island—Earhart’s intended destination when she disappeared—but Finch did drop a single wreath to honor of Earhart’s memory as she passed the island.

Create link | Add to Photo Album