TIGHAR

Amelia Earhart Search Forum => General discussion => Topic started by: Bill Richards on August 11, 2013, 03:59:34 PM

Title: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: Bill Richards on August 11, 2013, 03:59:34 PM
Hi

I've been lurking on this forum for some time and today I was compelled to post a video that I stumbled across on youtube.  It is a video of a round-the-world flight in 66 hours by a Lufthansa MD-11F and at apx. the 12:20 mark the co-pilot is seen taking a picture of an atoll as they are en route to New Zealand.  I was immediately struck by the similarity of Nikumaroro.  Is it the same island?  I may be wrong but I thought an interesting coincidence.  Here's the video link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh5U-w_9NuI

Bill Richards
 TIGHAR #4270
Title: Re: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: Ric Gillespie on August 11, 2013, 04:05:34 PM
No doubt about it!  That's our Niku at 12:29 into the video. .  BEAUTIFUL!
Title: Re: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: Bill Richards on August 11, 2013, 04:31:29 PM
Thanks for the confirmation Ric.  Obviously I've lurked enough to recognize Niku :-)
Title: Re: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: Chris Johnson on August 12, 2013, 01:19:57 AM
Nice :)
Title: Re: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: manjeet aujla on August 12, 2013, 11:49:20 AM
wow, it looks pretty from the air - the blue  lagoon in the center stands out so much.
Title: Re: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: Ric Gillespie on August 12, 2013, 12:03:58 PM
the blue  lagoon in the center stands out so much.

That's the first thing you see when you're flying - the color of the lagoon.  It's one reason why Niku would be so much easier to see than Howland which has no lagoon.
Title: Re: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: Gus Rubio on August 12, 2013, 01:53:54 PM
Wow, nice catch by the new guy!   :)

Such a beautiful place from above, yet so inhospitable on the ground. 
Title: Re: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: Alfred Hendrickson on August 12, 2013, 04:55:52 PM
Wow! Nice! I like it!
Title: Re: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: Gloria Walker Burger on August 12, 2013, 09:34:23 PM
Nice catch! Beautiful!
Is this what it may have looked like to Amelia and Fred? How high up would you estimate this guy was compared to how high Amelia could fly?
Title: Re: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: Ric Gillespie on August 13, 2013, 12:15:12 PM
How high up would you estimate this guy was compared to how high Amelia could fly?

My guess is that the jet was flying at about 10,000 ft - surprisingly low.  AE could fly that high but I'd be surprised if they were up there when they spotted Gardner.  They were down at 1,000 feet trying to find Howland.  A climb back up to 10,000 would be very expensive fuel-wise.
Title: Re: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: Gloria Walker Burger on August 13, 2013, 02:24:47 PM
Interesting. Thanks, Ric!
Title: Re: New Poster and Interesting Video
Post by: Stacy Galloway on August 13, 2013, 04:02:44 PM
Beautiful! Thank you, Bill :)