I think I have just one more long flight in my system,” Amelia told a group of New York reporters in February, 1937. “After that? My lovely home in North Hollywood–California sunshine–books–friends–leisurely travel–many things.”
Amelia planned her around-the-world flight carefully with the assistance of her long time technical advisor, Paul Mantz. They consulted with C.L. “Kelly” Johnson of Lockheed, the manufacturer of her new Model 10 Electra. In the beginning there was a real concern for Amelia’s carrying up to 1,151 gallons of fuel. Gasoline weighed six pounds per gallon and the weight of the fuel was balanced in many fuel tanks located throughout the fuselage and wings. To prevent accidental spinning, the fuel feed to the engines had to be carefully adjusted to maintain longitudinal balance. Amelia applied to the FAA for aircraft registration and her Electra was assigned NR-16020.
Arrangements were made to equip the plane with some of the best radio equipment available: a radio direction finder (RDF) that Amelia used to find an airfield; a voice radio system to the outside world; and a telegraph key for continuous wave/Morse code (CW) messages. A telegraph key used with a trailing antenna could transmit much farther than voice radio. Amelia received her Aircraft Radio Station License with call letters KHAQQ.
Verbal communication between the cockpit and the rear of the plane became a critical aspect of the flight because of engine noise. Amelia had voice communication to the outside world from the cockpit but no voice communication with her navigator in the back of the plane. Messages were exchanged with notes passed back and forth on a bamboo pole. Fred Noonan had continuous wave/Morse code (CW) in the back of the plane but his communication with Amelia was by bamboo pole.
Picture: Here Kelly Johnson gives Amelia her flight test report.
Credit: Lockheed California Company, now Lockheed Martin