Wiktor Wise
Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra 10E Special (NR16020) was built by Lockheed, who also designed the aircraft. Earhart took delivery of the plane in 1936, and it was used for her round-the-world attempt in 1937. The aircraft has never been found, and Earhart's disappearance remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of the 20th century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Aircraft Corporation |
| Model | Lockheed 10-E Electra |
| Designer | Clarence "Kelly" Johnson |
| Purpose | Commercial transport |
| Engine | Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp S3H1 |
| Horsepower | 600 hp (447 kW) |
| Cabin windows | Most removed for fuel tanks |
| Tail | Twin |
| Color | Silver |
| Owner | Amelia Earhart |
| Co-pilot | Fred Noonan |
| Year of purchase | 1936 |
| Price | $80,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Amelia Earhart's Electra was a Lockheed 10-E
The aircraft was officially called the "Flying Laboratory" because it was intended to be used as a test bed for new equipment. However, Earhart's real intention was to fly it around the world. The plane was modified for this purpose, with most of the cabin windows removed so that special fuel tanks could be installed in the fuselage.
The Lockheed 10-E Electra was also equipped with extra fuel tanks and long-range communication and navigation equipment for the round-the-world attempt. The aircraft was powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp S3H1, 600 hp (447 kW) engines.
The Lockheed 10-E Electra was designed in the early 1930s as a commercial transport aircraft to compete with the Douglas DC-2 and Boeing 247 airliners, which were revolutionizing the industry at the time. The design featured a signature twin-tail configuration, which was implemented to address stability and control issues discovered during wind tunnel testing.
The Lockheed 10-E Electra flown by Amelia Earhart has never been found, and her disappearance remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of the 20th century.
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It was purchased in 1936
Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra 10E Special (NR16020) was purchased in 1936 with funds from the Purdue Research Foundation. The aircraft was handed over to Earhart on her 39th birthday. It was intended to be used as a "Flying Laboratory", a test bed for new equipment, but Earhart's real intention was to fly it around the world.
The Lockheed 10-E was a popular high-performance private aircraft. It was designed as a 10-passenger airliner. The Purdue Research Foundation contributed $80,000 to purchase the aircraft. Many companies contributed their latest aviation technology to Earhart's "Flying Laboratory". Engineers removed most of the cabin windows so that special fuel tanks could be installed in the fuselage.
The Lockheed Model 10 Electra was designed in the early 1930s as a commercial transport to compete with the Douglas DC-2 and Boeing 247 airliners, which were revolutionizing commercial airlines by the mid-1930s. The Model 10 Electra series was the first aircraft project assigned to aeronautical engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson when he joined Lockheed in 1933. Johnson went on to become the chief engineer at Lockheed's "Skunk Works" and influenced many other famous Lockheed designs.
The Lockheed 10-E Electra that Amelia Earhart flew on her last flight in 1937 has never been found. A model of the aircraft is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
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The aircraft was modified with extra fuel tanks
Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Model 10E Electra was a highly modified aircraft. The plane was purchased with funds from the Purdue Research Foundation and was meant to be used as a "Flying Laboratory" to test new equipment. The aircraft was modified with extra fuel tanks and long-range communication and navigation equipment. It had a total fuel capacity of 1,151 gallons (4,357 litres) in ten tanks in the wings and fuselage. Additionally, 80 gallons (302.8 litres) of lubricating oil for the engines were carried in four tanks.
The Electra was powered by two air-cooled, supercharged Pratt & Whitney Wasp S3H1 nine-cylinder radial engines, with a compression ratio of 6:1. These engines used a single-stage centrifugal supercharger and were rated at 550 horsepower at 2,200 rpm. The plane also featured a Western Electric Model 13C radio transmitter and Model 20B receiver for radio communication, as well as a Sperry GyroPilot gyroscopic autopilot.
The modifications made to Earhart's Electra allowed for increased fuel capacity and improved communication and navigation capabilities, which were essential for her planned round-the-world flight. Unfortunately, during this flight in 1937, Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean, and neither they nor the Electra were ever found.
In 1997, pilot Linda Finch retraced Earhart's final flight path in a Lockheed Model 10-E Electra. Finch's aircraft was modified to match Earhart's, including the installation of additional fuel tanks and the blanking out of cabin windows.
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The plane was never found
Amelia Earhart's Lockheed 10-E Electra has never been found. Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared in July 1937 over the central Pacific Ocean during an attempted round-the-world flight. They left Lae, New Guinea, on July 2, 1937, for their next refuelling stop at Howland Island, a speck of land in the Pacific Ocean. They never found it. A massive sea and air search was conducted, covering an area roughly the size of Texas, but Earhart and Noonan were declared lost at sea on July 18, 1937. The disappearance of Earhart and her aircraft remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the 20th century.
The Lockheed 10-E Electra was a popular aircraft for both commercial aviation and private use. It was designed in the early 1930s as a commercial transport aircraft, competing with the Douglas DC-2 and Boeing 247 airliners. The Electra was known for its signature twin-tail configuration and clean, art-deco appearance. Lockheed built a total of 149 Electras, including variants for both civilian and military customers. The aircraft was used by eight US airlines and airlines in eleven foreign nations.
Amelia Earhart's Electra was a highly modified Model 10E, equipped with extra fuel tanks and long-range communication and navigation equipment. It was purchased with funds from the Purdue Research Foundation and was intended to be used as a \"Flying Laboratory\" to test new equipment. Earhart, however, had bigger plans for the aircraft and intended to use it for her round-the-world flight.
Despite the extensive search efforts, neither the aircraft nor the bodies of Earhart and Noonan were ever located. In the years following their disappearance, there has been much speculation and numerous theories about their fate, but the exact circumstances remain a mystery.
In 1994, aviator Linda Finch acquired a Lockheed 10-E Electra and set out on a round-the-world flight in March 1997, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Amelia Earhart's attempt. Finch replicated Earhart's original flight plan as closely as possible, including a wreath-dropping ceremony near Howland Island to honour the ill-fated crew.
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Earhart's disappearance remains a mystery
Amelia Earhart was an American aviation pioneer and one of history's most prominent figures in aviation. She was born in 1897 in Atchison, Kansas, and became the first female pilot to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. She set many other records in aviation and inspired a generation of female aviators.
On July 2, 1937, Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, took off from Lae, New Guinea, on a highly modified Model 10E Lockheed Electra plane. They were attempting to circumnavigate the globe and their next destination was Howland Island in the central Pacific Ocean, some 2,500 miles away. However, battling overcast skies, faulty radio transmissions, and a rapidly diminishing fuel supply, they lost contact with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter, the Itasca, which was waiting to guide them in for a landing on the tiny, uninhabited coral atoll. Despite a massive search-and-rescue mission by ships and planes from the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, which covered an area roughly the size of Texas, Earhart and Noonan were never found and were declared lost at sea on July 18, 1937.
Earhart's disappearance remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of the 20th century and has captivated people to this day. The most widely accepted explanation is that Earhart and Noonan ran out of fuel, crashed into the Pacific Ocean, and drowned. However, there are several alternate theories, including speculation that the Japanese were involved in her disappearance and claims that she survived the world flight and lived under a different identity. In the absence of definitive evidence, such as the wreckage of her plane, the mystery surrounding Earhart's final flight is likely to endure.
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Frequently asked questions
Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra 10E Special was built by Lockheed.
Amelia Earhart's Electra was intended to be used as a "Flying Laboratory", a test bed for new equipment. However, Earhart's real intention was to fly it around the world.
Amelia Earhart received her Electra on her 39th birthday in 1936.
The Purdue Research Foundation funded the purchase of Amelia Earhart's Electra.
Amelia Earhart's Electra was never found. It disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean during an attempted round-the-world flight in 1937.
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