KKFX San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara - News-Woman Recreating Amelia Earhart Journey Leaving Central Coast
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08.20.09
SANTA MARIA - A New Jersey woman is on the Central Coast to fulfill a life-long and historic goal.
It's the love story of Grace McGuire and her plane, Muriel.
They've traveled by road, from the East Coast to the Central Coast to recreate Amelia Earhart's flight and to honor her legacy.
But with recent roadblocks, she'll soon be leaving our area to take the history-making journey to San Diego.
"Muriel" is the only survivor of the 15 original Lockheed L-10Es in the world.
She's the same version flown by Amelia Earhart on her fateful flight in 1937.
Grace McgGuire, who owns Muriel, says, "I had initially planned to just finish Amelia's flight for her... I thought she deserved better luck."
Now, Grace McGuire plans to recreate the whole flight.
McGuire brought the aircraft, in pieces, to the Santa Maria Airport to re-build her, and to prepare for flight.
McGuire says, "We will fly to Miami, and then down the East Coast of South America to Dakar... and so everything will be identical, except the outcome, I'm coming back," she smiles.
But a roadblock in McGuire's flight plans have encountered a new Transportation Security Administration policy:
Chris Hastert, General Manager of the Santa Maria Airport, says, "The requirement is that we verify the identification of airport tenants, and provide them with an airport issued-I.D. card and that verification consists of them coming in with an application filled-out... and providing proof of their identification for us."
Because of that, McGuire says she is unable to finish putting-together Muriel, without having each and every mechanic go through the same badging process.
McGuire says, "So the project is in shambles, it's very sad. It's a sad day for general aviation."
Then, in a cloud-filled sky, came a ray of light: San Diego Air and Space Museum offered to re-build Muriel and get Grace McGuire back on track for her international flight.
But she has to get there first.
McGuire says, "It's going to take a little while to get organized again and to put my aircraft back together again. And, yes, I am going to make the flight. And no doubt about it, I promise you, I am determined."
