NavList:

Hi Frank

Your comments are interesting but many of them have been misinterpreted and are out of context.

In reference to the use of the title "Princess" - unfortunately, I disagree with your assessment of why it is used and the reason I use it - again it is out of context.

To explain - I believe that Amelia Earhart as the captain of the aircraft made a collection of terrible decisions regarding her job as the captain of the ship and it is in this context that I believe she acted as "Princess" Earhart vs Captain Earhart and in these 2 dichotomies there was a serious conflict of interest. Ultimately contributing to her final demise.

In the context of the above, the very poor decisions on choice of route, choice of aircraft and the poor decisions throughtout her trip and with the overlay of the "Swiss Cheese Model" - in my opinion ( and Frank I give my opinion based on a lot of actual flying/Navigator experience ( and I have not mentioned - I to have been present as a member of an military investigative board of enquiry into an aircraft accident) - in this context it is of my opinion the "Princess Earhart was an accident going somewhere to happen"

You also miss the context of my opinion on the suitability of the Electra 30E and the equipment it had - this was not a 20/20 hindsight crystal ball perspective from the lofty heights of 2024 but merely an assessment/opinion ( which I believe I am qualified to give - but an opinion non the less) of the Electra 30E and its equipment as a suitable and well kitted out aircraft for such a long range flight - it was not a suitable aircraft and it was poorly equipped.

And this is not my opinion but a broader opinion from others and from the article I gave the link to.

To continue, based on the above facts ( not inferences) - Fred Noonan whether he was a good navigator or not, whether Amelia Earhart was a good pilot or not ( and there is a lot of doubt in both) but let us say the Electra 30E and its poor setup was flown to its best under the situation - you still had, at best, an aircraft that was not optimum for such a long flight into the unknown to find a tiny island without any kind of inward guidance.

From that perspective Frank it is very hard to come to any other conclusion that, this time, the odds were against them and well north of track and short on fuel they just ran out of luck.

Further, if this can then be assumed to be the demise of the two then taking this flight back to before takeoff and the decision to go or not - a captain's decision "Captain Earharts" decision then in consideration of all the known facts about the weather, fuel load, aircraft suitability, unsure whether a homing beacon was there or even working etc etc - getting airborne was a bad decision at best and ultimately they died from that single decision.

Remember my perspective is from having flown as a military navigator (4000 hrs)  in Bristol Freighters, P3B Orions, Dakotas, Devons, Strikemaster, some of these not disimilar in equipment and performance to the Electra 30E. Also, I have flown in the weather they experiencedd ( tropical convergence zone weather - different from typical highs and lows) and in that area of the pacific. 

I don't in any way assume that my perspective allows me to give anything other than 'my opinion' - but none the less opinion based on a lot of experience - whick frankly ( no pun intended) - is seriously more objective than the conspiracy theories that have been floaded (aired) without reference to known facts.

No offence is taken Frank with your comments - I am too long in the tooth for that - this is an open forum and the comments from the broad experience of the contributors is wonderful.

Regards Howard G