Investigators to embark on fresh quest to locate Amelia Earhart's elusive plane - Investigators to embark on a fresh quest for Amelia Earhart's fabled aircraft
Amelia Earhart's iconic Lockheed Electra 10E aircraft, which disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in 1937, may finally be found, as a new search is planned to begin in November. The search will take place on Nikumaroro Island, part of the Pacific nation of Kiribati, based on compelling evidence from satellite imagery from 2015.
The Purdue Research Foundation and the Archaeological Legacy Institute (ALI) are leading the expedition, named the "Taraia Object Expedition." The team will investigate a visual anomaly known as the "Taraia Object" within the island’s lagoon, which they believe could be the remains of Earhart's plane.
Richard Pettigrew, ALI’s executive director, is optimistic about the expedition, stating that the evidence supporting this search is strong. Purdue University, which once had a connection with Earhart, is playing a leading role in this historic endeavour. The institution has pledged $500,000 to support the search.
Amelia Earhart was the first person to attempt circumnavigating the Earth by airplane. Contact with her and her navigator, Fred Noonan, was lost on July 2, 1937, and they have been missing since. Despite numerous search efforts led by Ric Gillespie, of the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (Tighar), the wreckage of Earhart's aircraft has never been found.
Gillespie, however, remains skeptical of the new findings. Previous searches, such as the 2020 Deep Sea Vision (DSV) expedition, which searched the southern Pacific seabed for three months, found only a rock formation, not the Lockheed Electra 10E.
The researchers' hopes are based on the satellite imagery, which shows objects resembling parts of Earhart's aircraft, tools from American manufacturers, and a medicine bottle on Nikumaroro Island. If successful, the aircraft will be brought to Purdue University.
This potential discovery could mark a significant milestone in aviation history, providing closure for Earhart's family and fans, and offering valuable insights into the events surrounding her mysterious disappearance. The expedition is described as potentially the greatest opportunity ever to finally close the case of her disappearance in 1937[1][2][3][4][5].
[1] https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2023/Q3/purdue-research-foundation-to-support-search-for-amelia-earharts-lost-aircraft.html [2] https://www.ali.org/news/2023/07/purdue-research-foundation-to-support-search-for-amelia-earharts-lost-aircraft [3] https://www.kiribati.gov.ck/news/kiribati-to-host-amelia-earhart-search [4] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56166260 [5] https://www.npr.org/2023/07/01/1277313508/amelia-earharts-lost-aircraft-search-to-resume-on-nikumaroro-island-in-kiribati
- Scientists and industry partners are collaborating on a journey that could revolutionize the world of aviation and space-and-astronomy, as they search for the Lockheed Electra 10E airplane of Amelia Earhart, the legendary aviator who attempted circumnavigating the Earth by airplane.
- The finance sector has shown its support for this historical endeavour too, with Purdue University pledging $500,000 towards the search, demonstrating the intertwining relationship between finance and the aerospace industry.
- As the search for Earhart's airplane gains momentum, the results could have profound implications beyond the science community, potentially shedding light on industry standards, finance practices, and even the events surrounding the mysterious disappearance of a national icon, Amelia Earhart.
