Carnauba Expedition 1998

The 1998 Expedition

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The Carnauba Expedition recreates H.F. Johnson Jr.’s 1935 Carnauba Expedition, a historic venture into uncharted territories to study the carnauba palm tree. Called the "Tree of Life" by Brazilians, the carnauba palm is the source of the world’s hardest natural wax.

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Sam, Curt and Fisk Johnson are piloting an exact replica of the "Carnauba," the twin-engine Sikorsky S-38 amphibious aircraft used by Sam’s father more than 60 years ago.

In October/November 1998, the Johnsons will travel 7,500 miles, from Racine, Wis., to Fortaleza, Brazil, with several stops along the way in the United States, the Caribbean, and South America.

At the conclusion of the journey, SC Johnson will announce a major financial commitment to The Nature Conservancy to allow for the protection of two reserves in Brazil’s Caatinga ecoregion and create a local conservation organization.

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