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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0509.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 27, 1932 •/ ' ™ ^lf: f:.X~- « OJft ** , ( if? f LADY LINDY'S LOCKHEED : Miss Earhart's Lockheed " Vega " monoplane in the field outside Londonderry, after the Atlantic crossing. MISS AMELIA EARHART'S ATLANTIC FLIGHT First Woman to Accomplish Solo Crossing FOR the first time in the History of Aeronautics the Atlantic has been conquered by a woman pilot, flying solo. This feat has been accomplished by Mrs. G. P. Putnam—or, as she is better known, Miss Amelia Earhart—who in 1928 flew as passenger from Newfoundland to South Wales in the Fokker seaplane Friendship, piloted by Wilmer Stultz. Miss Earhart—who has been nicknamed " Lady Lindy " on account of her likeness to Col. Charles Lindbergh, who made the first solo Atlantic flight exactly five years previous to her pre sent feat—has also accomplished the crossing in the fastest time so far achieved. Miss Earhart, flying a Lockheed " Vega " high-wing monoplane (420-h.p. Pratt & Whitney " Wasp "), left New Jersey, accompanied by Mr. Balchen and Mr. Gorski, on May 19 and flew to St. John, New Brunswick, and the next day she went on to Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. Here the machine was immediately re fuelled, and two hours later—at 7.30 p.m. (local time, or 10.30 p.m. B.S.T.)—she set out alone across the Atlantic. At first weather conditions were ideal, but four hours out her troubles began. First, the ex haust manifold began to burn through, and this trouble got worse as time went by—a portion of the manifold eventually break ing away. Miss Earhart could see the flames in the darkness, especi ally when, later, trouble number two—a leaky petrol gauge— developed. She decided, however, not to turn back, and continued on into heavy weather. To make matters worse, she had altimeter trouble, and was unable to tell exactly 100 or 300 ft. She climbed to off Donegal. The flight across the Atlantic, therefore,, occupied 13J hours, the fastest of all Atlantic crossings. She was uncertain as to her whereabouts, and turned north to escape the clouds on the hill tops, and eventually picked up a railway, which she followed, hoping to locate " a big city with its airport." Miss Earhart found the " city "—Londonderry—but no airport, so looked around for a suitable field outside. This she found on a farm at Culmore, where she made a safe landing at 1.45 p.m. Londonderry gave her a warm reception, including a greeting from the Mayor. She spent the night at Mr. Gallagher's farm, and next day she was flown in a N.F.S. Desoutter air taxi to Blackpool, whence she continued in a similar machine to Hanworth. Here she was welcomed by Mr. Mellon, the American Ambassador, and Col. the Master of Sempill. Pratts' spirit and oil was used on this flight. whether she was above the water a higher altitude to try and find better weather, but then ice formed on the machine, and she had to come down low again. At dawn she saw a ship, which greeted her with a blast from its siren, and later saw land ahead. Actually, she made landfall at 11.45 a.m. (or 8.45 a.m. New foundland time, by her watch) IN LONDON Miss Ear Col. the 469 hart greeted by the American Ambassador', Mr. Mellon, and Master of Sempill (right), at Han'worth.
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