Carlene Mendieta is making her way across the U.S. alone in a tiny antique airplane. She is using only a road map to navigate. Mendieta's mission: to duplicate the historic 1928 cross-country flight of her hero, Amelia Earhart.
Last week, Mendieta, 47, took off from a New York airport. She is recreating Earhart's trip down to the smallest details—stopping in the same 23 cities, wearing identical clothing and eating Earhart's favorite meals, such as fried eggs and ham. Even Mendieta's plane was built at the same time as Earhart's. The 5,500-mile trip will take three weeks to complete.
"I hope this flight encourages people who have an interest in aviation to get out there and do it," says Mendieta.