The Aircraft That Broke a Record by Flying Continuously for 64 Days

A Cessna 172 airplane; He broke the Guinness World Record by flying non-stop for 64 days, 22 hours and 19 minutes. This record, without touching the ground Circling the Earth approximately 6 times It meant.

So how was this plane able to do this in 1958? What would the fuel be? Most important, Why exactly would they do such a thing? Let’s answer.

In 1956, an entrepreneur wanted to promote his hotel in Las Vegas.

II. World War II bomber pilot Rovert Timm had an idea. on the plane Hacienda Hotel’s advertisement would be featured prominently and they would break the endurance record. They spent a year to get the plane they decided on ready.

A fuel tank; to transfer the main fuel to the main tank. electric pump, oil lines to change oil and filters without shutting down the engine added. Of course, there were also things like a bed, a sink, and a foldable toilet.

They set off on December 4, 1958.

When the clock showed 15.52, the duo’s plane took off with a pickup truck. Fuel transfer twice a day was being done. During the 64-day flight, Timm and Cook spent their free time reading comics and counting cars on the road. A mattress was placed at the back of the small cabin, and the two took turns sleeping.

The hotel chefs were cooking fresh meals for Timm and Cook and transferring them to the plane in thermos containers. After the feces are put in plastic bags They were left in the deserted areas of the desert.

Long flight hours and insufficient sleep began to wear the crew down over time.

On the morning of January 9, Timm fell asleep just minutes before the end of his shift. Airplane on autopilot It had flown by itself for more than an hour. Timm, however, never told this to his teammate until the end of the flight.

Over time, equipment failures began to increase. The generator was failing and fuel transfer to the wing tanks was done with a hand pump. In addition, there were problems with the autopilot, some lights, the tachometer and the reserve tank fuel indicator.

On February 7, 1959, the plane started to land.

The plane, which traveled approximately 241,401,600 km, landed at New York McCarren Field after a long adventure. This record was exhibited at the Hacienda for 2 years after the flight. Currently at McCarran International Airport, above the baggage claim area for arriving passengers It’s hanging.

The incredible flight, which lasted 64 days, was a great example of both machine and human endurance. Especially when you consider that it was the 1950s… Robert Timm died in 1976 and John Cook died in 1995, but a solid place in aviation history books they acquired.

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