Pictures of Interest

[richie conroy]

Question...these steel pieces shown at the conference...are these cross supports for the plane?

That's the main spar of the wing, and that is aluminium.

They were aluminum skin plated, but the structures were made of steel. http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Research/Bulletins/56_WhereIsElectra/56_where3.htm

[richie conroy]

Found these two pictures in the Kansas room at the Hays Public Library in Hays. Thought you might find the unfinished Electra plane interesting with the cross braces along the outside of the plane and the steel pieces criss crossing where the fuel tanks would go. Question...these steel pieces shown at the conference...are these cross supports for the plane?

if you click on link you will find better quality images  :)

https://tighar.org/smf/index.php/topic,504.15.html

here is another link http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Research/Bulletins/61_FuelSystem/61_FuelSystem.htm

[Malcolm McKay]

They were aluminum skin plated, but the structures were made of steel. http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Research/Bulletins/56_WhereIsElectra/56_where3.htm

No - the main spar is all aluminium, steel would be a heavy, corrosion nightmare besides offering no extra strength. The steel bits are the tubular engine mounts attached to the nacelles.

[JNev]

Malcolm's correct in his assessment if I am following you two (Richie and Malcolm) -

The main structures of the Electra were aluminum.  Richie, you noted aluminum 'skins' - correct - but so were the frames in the interior picture (aluminum) including the main spar (a truss affair built up of formed aluminum plate).

The engine mounts - tubular structures attached to the nacelles out on the wings - WERE steel, as would be the major landing gear components.  Not much else of 'steel' in there, however.

As Malcolm noted, you get issues when you mix the two - differential metals set up a difference in potenti which amounts to corrosion when exposed to the right conditions, especially contaminants and moisture (acts like a battery).  Care has to be take to isolate the two when they do interface in the construction of an airplane, e.g. where a steel mount bolts to an aluminum structure.

Hope that helps clarify a bit.  Interesting pix from those bulletins.  Read those carefully - they may reveal more about the point I am trying to clarify here.

[richie conroy]

They were aluminum skin plated, but the structures were made of steel. http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Research/Bulletins/56_WhereIsElectra/56_where3.htm

No - the main spar is all aluminium, steel would be a heavy, corrosion nightmare besides offering no extra strength. The steel bits are the tubular engine mounts attached to the nacelles.

Thanks Malcolm

I miss read this bit, The aluminum skins that bound the center section.

My Bad  :)

[Gloria Walker Burger]

Hi everyone! I'm new here. I've been spending my spring and summer (I'm a teacher) reading as much as I can on the TIGHAR website and finding it fascinating (and addicting!)! Thanks to all the researchers and the wonderful work you are all doing. Though no smoking gun has been found, I am convinced that Gardner (or Niku) is where AE and FN ended up. Your research and expeditions are amazing. I especially enjoyed these pictures and that great video of Amelia flying (notice the shoe as she gets in the plane). The one sold on ebay...sure doesn't look like Amelia, but I guess it must be as it was taken in Lae with FN. Where can I find more video of Amelia, especially of her talking? Thanks!

[C.W. Herndon]

Gloria, Welcome to the Forum.

Here's one place to look. Have fun.

http://www.criticalpast.com/products/search/?sort_order=asc&q=amelia%20earhart&page=1

[don hirth]

Welcome, Gloria! (from a 3 mo. newbie) 'Much great thought in this forum. Let's hope for
something promising on Aug. 19.

[Bob Lanz]

Where can I find more video of Amelia, especially of her talking? Thanks!

Welcome Gloria,

You might want to take a moment and go to the New Member Introduction thread and tell us a bit about yourself.

https://tighar.org/smf/index.php/topic,235.25.html

Here are some clips of Amelia talking on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UDkXcj585I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czki0r7KcmU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsLDA-ItfHA&playnext=1&list=PL14AC1C0E9800A372&feature=results_main

[Gloria Walker Burger]

Thanks all. Great links!

[Kevin Weeks]

here is an interesting and tragic photo. I was starting to look for some helpful views of the electra's landing gear when I ran across this photo of her. I can only imagine what she might have been doing to that RDF had she known.



thanks to whoever moved my post, much better place for it!

[Jeff Victor Hayden]

here is an interesting and tragic photo. I was starting to look for some helpful views of the electra's landing gear when I ran across this photo of her. I can only imagine what she might have been doing to that RDF had she known.



thanks to whoever moved my post, much better place for it!

Kevin. If she had learned how to use it and, its capabilities she would have been kissing it :D

[Kevin Weeks]

I wonder which RDF unit it was?? the "new" heavy one or the one that ended up on the flight. I'm guessing it was a promo pic of the new unit that she had removed for weight concerns??

originally she had no reason to learn its use as she had noonan to work it in the copilot's seat.....

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

I wonder which RDF unit it was?? the "new" heavy one or the one that ended up on the flight. I'm guessing it was a promo pic of the new unit that she had removed for weight concerns??

See the article on Hooven, with links to the Loop Antenna article.

[Kevin Weeks]

thanks marty, after doing a bit of reading it apears that the RDF she is holding in that picture is the one that was used on the flight. i havent actually found an image of the "heavy" modern unit but apparently it was much smaller and more aerodynamic. Hooven stated that the aero benefits of the new unit would outweigh (see what I did there) the loss of fuel she could carry.