Aviatrix Bids Mainland Adieu Following Earhart’s Route, Philosophy

Linda Finch got a heroine’s sendoff here Monday as her back-to-the-future, round-the-equator flight, duplicating the path of the ill-fated aviatrix Amelia Earhart 60 years ago, left the United States for the first time.

The crowd of 1,000 that lined the taxiway at Kendall-Tamiami Airport contained a disproportionate number of schoolgirls, who pressed gifts on Finch - orchids, a teddy bear, a personal letter and many hugs - in return for her autographing everything from an old wooden model airplane to a bank check to commemorate her adventure in old-fashioned flying.

“Amelia believed that limits were often more perceived than real, and those imposed by society, friends and fears can be overcome,” Finch told students during special class sessions at the airport last week. “She thought that if you have faith in yourself, anything is possible and you can accomplish your dreams.”

That’s how the 46-year-old Finch is approaching her challenge of tracing the path outlined by daredevil Earhart in her 1937 attempt to become the first person to circle the earth at its widest point. Earhart fell about 2,000 miles short of her goal, disappearing near Howland Island, a tiny atoll in the western Pacific Ocean.

Howland Island is one of the 31 scheduled stops on Finch’s 24,557-mile trip. She began her odyssey on March 17 in Oakland, Calif., and made stops in Burbank, Tucson and New Orleans before arriving here a week ago for one of five scheduled maintenance stops.

While Finch is piloting the same 1930s model Lockheed Electra 10E that Earhart used - only two of the original 15 remain - Finch is quick to admit her gleamingly restored silver aircraft has many advantages unknown to Earhart.

“Amelia’s journey was much harder, without having fax machines and cell phones” to keep in touch with those who are tracking her journey in the air and on the ground, said Finch.

After Monday’s 908 nautical mile leg to San Juan - a six-hour trip at a lumbering cruising speed of 150 mph - Finch plans to visit South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and Hawaii. She is scheduled to return to Oakland around the end of May.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Watch on the Web “You Can Soar,” designed by Linda Finch and 20 schoolteachers, lets students follow the flight. The World Wide Web site is www.worldflight.org