Jeff -- Just so we're clear, I was suggesting that Gary's little scenario was totally nonsensical on day one, when we believe they had a working radio and gas and a battery and a plane that was likely to go over the reef at any moment. It makes absolutely no sense that Amelia would abandon the radio and an injured navigator on the off chance there might be someone around, particularly if she was moving slowly. She'd also probably hope that if someone was on the island, they would hear the crash and come to investigate.
Once the plane was over the edge and/or the radio no longer worked, though, yeah -- no problem with Gary's scenario. My issue was with his repeated assertion that that was something they would plausibly do as soon as they landed. No. Way. Plus, not supported by the evidence we have, but that's another issue.
I said she should look for help on the second day since she only had half a day left after her arrival on Gardner.
Just because you believe that they had a working transmitter based on the reports of later radio receptions, what makes you think that Earhart believed that her transmitter was working? She never got any responses to the messages she sent to Itasca. Just because the radio lights up doesn't mean that it is putting out any signal. Even if it did work, she would have no way to know that, she got no feedback to confirm that it was actually working. In fact, there
is reason to believe that the transmitter die not work since no transmissions from the plane were heard by Itasca during the three hour flight down to Gardner and it is logical that she was attempting to send messages about her location and plans at that time. And there is certainly no reason that either Earhart or Noonan were "McGivers" with any knowledge of how to troubleshoot a radio problem or to fix one if they found it.
"Amelia, please go and see if you can find some medical help for me, I'm really busted up and I know I will die before help can arrive from Howland, I can't last more than one or two days. My only hope is that there is someone, somewhere on this island to help me or I am lost."
"There, there, Fred it'll be alright. I want to stay here for five more days and send out radio distress calls."
"Amelia, that radio ain't working, no one ever responded to us, it's busted, go get me some help."
"There, there Fred it will be alright."
"Tell you what Amelia, if I am going to die here because you won't try to get me some help, I am going to use my sextant box to bash in your head, and take you with me!"
gl