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+--- Thread: Bad Map Might Be Why Earhart Didn't Reach Island (/showthread.php?tid=105)
Bad Map Might Be Why Earhart Didn't Reach Island - P.Rutherford - 04-13-2017
Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan disappeared into the Pacific ocean in 1937, 80 years ago, and there are still people trying to figure out what happened to them and why.
The story below, click on it, explains that a government chart they used listed Howland island 7 miles Northwest of its actual location.
Amelia Earhart- inaccurate chart?
It has been often said, "you must be blind not to see an island 2 miles long from an airplane about 1,000 feet off the water". Consider this- they were flying, upon approach, into the Sun and then turned to follow an LOP on what they thought was passing through Howland- 157° - 337°. I assume they flew the line in both of those directions looking for Howland.
Now then, here's a picture of Howland- how well can you see it? I can't see it very well and would assume its the shadow of a cloud cast on the ocean. Combine those circumstances with the longevity of the length of the flight- they must've been very tired.
Paul