PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Longest Flight
Thread: Longest Flight
View Single Post
Old 4th Jul 2008, 13:31
  #18 (permalink)  
jolly girl
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: With my head in the clouds
Age: 54
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"Some folks flew something like 2 months without landing - back in 1950-s or 1960-s or so, on small GA planes. They refueled in air - by hose from trucks running on road beneath."

Here it is...
"Imagine spending over two months in a Cessna 172, flying twenty four hours a day, without even landing for fuel. That's exactly what two pilots did back in 1958 in the California and Nevada desert. Bob Timm and John Cook set a world endurance record, remaining airborne for just under 65 days. It was a publicity flight, sponsored by the Hacienda Hotel in Las Vegas.

A stock Cessna 172 was purchased, then modified for the flight. Although the Continental engine was basically untouched, two oil systems, filters, and a 95 gallon fuel tank were installed. The oil could be changed and the plane refuelled without shutting down the engine. Except for the pilot seat, the interior was gutted, then re-done to include a mattress and a sink. The right side door was collapsible, providing access to the exterior and enabling the co-pilot to operate a winch for bringing supplies aboard from below. Re-fuelling and re-supplying the airplane were the tricky parts. Twice daily, the plane was flown just above a speeding truck from which a hose was hoisted up to pump 95 gallons of avgas into the belly tank. Food, water and other supplies were lifted up from the truck as well."

For more info and photos:
http://www.ocis.net/tvsac/0803news.html

The last time I saw the aircraft, it was hanging in MacCarran airport between the terminal and baggage claim.
jolly girl is offline