SEARCHING FOR AMELIA

Pilot, pioneer, adventurer and enigma, Amelia Earhart is somewhat of an obsession for Ric Gillespie and the members of TIGHAR, The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery. TIGHAR's search for the elusive remains of Earhart, her plane and her navigator, Fred Noonan, has spanned more than a decade and taken them several times to the remote atolls of Kiribati. In particular, to Nikumaroro, where Ric believes Earhart went down near the end of her epic round-the-world attempt. 

Now NAI'A has joined the mystery! Recognizing her long-range capability, versatile design and eye-catching lines, TIGHAR has chartered NAI'A and her crew for a month to carry the search team, documentary film crew and several tonnes of high-tech archaeological equipment (including an ultralight plane!) the 1000 miles to Nikumaroro. Once there, NAI'A will serve as floating home and mother ship for the expeditioners as they scour the island's jungle, investigate local folklore and scan beneath the surface of the the reef-fringed lagoon for clues - or for definitive proof that Earhart was there. 

Its going to be one helluva fantastic voyage and we're thrilled to be a part of it! Look out for two documentaries about the project on US television in June this year. Indiana Jones, eat your heart out! Rumour has it, that's major shark territory up there!