Here's my new chronology based on the new information from Macleod's logbook.
Sunday, July 19, 1936
Lockheed completes the airplane and has it inspected. Lockheed applies for and is granted registration as X16020.
Monday, July 20, 1936
Lockheed test pilot Elmer McLeod makes the first flight in X16020. His logbook entry reads “First Test. A & E [Airframe and Engine], Lockheed to Lockheed.” The duration of the flight is 1 hour 50 minutes covering 280 miles for an average speed of 153 mph.
Tuesday, July 21, 1936
Earhart’s makes her first flight in the aircraft. Lockheed test pilot Elmer McLeod is at the controls. His logbook entry reads “Test – Lockheed.” The duration of the flight is 2 hours 10 minutes covering 400 miles for an average speed of 154 mph. The flight includes 6 takeoffs and landings. Clearly an instructional flight.
The press is invited and she poses for photos. The aircraft is marked NR16020 apparently for the press but McLeod logs the flight as X16020.
Earhart gives Lockheed a letter authorizing Paul Mantz to take delivery of the airplane on her behalf in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Wednesday, July 22, 1936
McLeod logs “Test – Lockheed” in X16020. The duration of the flight is 1 hour 30 minutes covering 210 miles for an average speed of 140 mph. There are four takeoffs and landings. This is probably more dual instruction for either Earhart or Mantz.
Thursday, July 23, 1936
McLeod logs another “Test – Lockheed” in X16020. The duration of the flight is 50 minutes covering 150 miles for an average speed of 181 mph. There are two takeoffs and landings.
Friday, July 24, 1936
McLeod delivers X16020. His logbook entry reads “Del. to Las Vegas, Nev.” The duration of the flight is 1 hour 20 minutes covering 280 miles for an average speed of 210 mph. The flight includes 2 takeoffs and landings.
In Las Vegas, Lockheed conveys ownership of the Electra to Amelia Earhart presumably via Mantz for $10. A Nevada Notary notarizes the transaction. The document gives the airplane's registration number as NR16020 but the NR is written-over by hand with X. There is no way to tell when the correction was made.
McLeod does not log a return trip. Lockheed and Mantz are both based in Burbank. It seems likely that Mantz rode with McLeod and, after going through the formalities of delivery, flew the aircraft home as Pilot In Command.
Saturday, July 25, 1936
McLeod logs another test flight in X16020. The airplane no longer belongs to Lockheed so McLeod’s log book entry reads “Test – Burbank to Burbank.” The duration of the flight is 1 hour 5 minutes covering 200 miles for an average speed of 185 mph. The flight includes 3 takeoffs and landings. This is probably more dual instruction.
Monday, July 27, 1936
Lockheed notifies the Bureau of Air Commerce that Serial No. 1055 has been sold to Amelia Earhart and encloses an application for re-assignment of license number NR16020 "as executed by Miss Earhart." The application applies for registration in the Restricted category but many of the questions on the form are not answered and it says that NR16020 is the registration displayed on the aircraft. The application is not granted. The application is incomplete and the aircraft has not been approved for international flight so it cannot carry the N designation.
Sunday, August 2, 1936
According to a newspaper article, Earhart and McLeod make a 1 hour and 55 minute flight to Mills Field, San Francisco but there is no such flight in McLeod’s log book. Apparently Earhart is Pilot In Command. Until a new application can be submitted the airplane must carry the only registration number that has been approved, X16020.
According to McLeod’s log book, that same day he makes an hour and a half test flight in CFAZY, Model 10A c/n1063 built for Canadian Airlines. Apparently he made that flight earlier in the day.
Monday, August 3, 1936
Earhart and McLeod fly the Electra across the bay to Alameda to see Elmer Dimity’s big parachute and fog dispeller. This is apparently the only time the plane is photographed while displaying the X16020 registration. They return to Burbank that afternoon. It was a busy day for McLeod. He then delivered CFAZY to Las Vegas and brought it back to Burbank. Apparently the Las Vegas delivery was a standard sales tax dodge.
Wednesday, August 5, 1936
McLeod makes a 1 hour flight logged as “Test Burbank.” The flight covers 180 miles for an average speed of 180 mph and includes 3 landing and takeoffs. McLeod logs the airplane as NR16020 even though Earhart’s application for registration in the Restricted category has not been approved.
Thursday, August 6, 1936
Earhart submits a new application. The registration displayed on the aircraft is listed as simply 16020.
Friday, August 7, 1936
The application is still not right and is stamped VOID. Corrections are made and the application is re-submitted There is a handwritten notation “see corrected application” and another in a different hand “OK 12 mos” with initials. The application is approved. Registration number is R16020.
McLeod’s log book records a flight “To S. F. airport 4 A. & E.” The duration of the flight is 2 hours covering 350 miles for an average speed of 175 mph. There are two takeoffs and landings.
Saturday, August 8, 1936
McLeod logs a 15 minute “Test Burbank” in NR16020 although no return from San Francisco is logged. Apparently someone else was PIC for the return flight.
Sunday August 9, 1936
McLeod logs 1 hour and 15 minute “Test Burbank” covering 200 miles for an average speed of 160 mph. There are 3 landing and takeoffs.
Speculation:
I see indications of a maintenance problem. The flight to San Francisco is not another instructional fight because McLeod is PIC and the purpose of the flight is “A&E.” Earhart probably rides along and is PIC for the return flight. The Lockheed shop works on the problem and McLeod’s 15 minute flight on Saturday is a check to see if the problem is fixed. McLeod is PIC for the test flight on Sunday so apparently there is still a problem and there is apparently some urgency because he is working on Sunday.