73 Years Later, Amelia Earhart Flies Again

[PeaceNikki]

Taking after her famous aviator namesake, Amelia Rose Earhart took off Thursday to become the youngest woman to fly a single-engine airplane around the world.

In spite of their nearly identical names — the original Amelia Earhart's middle name was Mary — there is no biological relation. But that didn't stop the modern-day Earhart from pursuing similar passions.

The 31-year-old pilot, a former traffic and weather reporter, boarded her plane in Oakland to embark on her 24,300 nautical mile journey around the globe. Early Monday morning, Earhart took off from Brazil and is now headed for Senegal.

The total trip will take just over two weeks and will cover 14 countries. She will then touch down back in Oakland.

http://twitter.com/Amelia__Earhart/status/481994460746629120/photo/1

Along the way, Earhart will be awarding scholarships to aspiring female pilots through her charity project, the Fly With Amelia Foundation.

http://mashable.com/2014/07/01/amelia-earhart-takes-off/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link

She's Tweeting the whole trip. Amazing lady!! Godspeed, Amelia!

[shenmue]

1. Awesome!

[smilodon populator]

2. Anybody know what type of plane she's flying?

The logo under the cockpit says "Pilatus" which is a Swiss company that makes STOL (short takeoff and landing) aircraft which are extremely rugged and hence popular in Third World countries like Africa and Alaska

[PeaceNikki]

3. A Pilatus PC12.

I'm flying the Pilatus PC12 which is a single-engine turboprop and it's one of most technologically advanced planes out there.
We've got dual GPS systems on the aircraft.
We've got navigation that shows us exactly where we are and exactly what point in space.
We want to show people that ... even small planes can be very manageable over long trips like this.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/18/travel/amelia-earhart-global-flight/

[smilodon populator]

6. Beautiful plane

I want.

[smilodon populator]

4. oops

Just clicked the second link (Mashable). The aeroplane is a Pilatus PC-12 a single engine turboprop that has been modified with extra fuel tanks and probably high end navigation equipment for those long ocean crossing legs. This a bit bolder than the original Amelia. who flew a twin engine Lockheed Electra. Of course, her single engine is far more advanced and reliable than the early engines on the ancient Electra.

Godspeed Amelia.

[treestar]

5. That is cool!

She may be taking the same route - I recall something about the Brazil to Senegal leg is the shortest way across the Atlantic.

[smilodon populator]

7. Yup.

In WWII That was the route used to ferry American combat aircraft to the North African theatre, and later the Mediterranean when we invaded Italy