World Flight

World Flight
Followin in the footsteps of the great aviators.

2/2/12

Howard Huges fly around the world

Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, investor and aviator.

On July 10 to July 14, 1938, Hughes set another record by completing a flight around the world in just 91 hours (3 days, 19 hours), beating the previous record by more than four hours. Taking off from New York City, he continued to Paris, Moscow, Omsk, Yakutsk, Fairbanks, Minneapolis, and continued to New York City.

He flew a Lockheed 14-N Super Electra, a twin-engine transport with a four-man crew. The aircraft was equipped with two powerful Wright Cyclone engines, the most powerful available, and the latest in radio and navigational equipment. Hughes wanted the flight to be a triumph of technology, illustrating that safe, long-distance air travel was possible.

He broke the earlier record set by Wiley Post’s round-the-globe speed record by circling the Northern Hemisphere.

Upon his return, Hughes was given a ticker tape parade down Broadway in New York City.

Source: Wikipedia / Century-of-flight.net

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