When they werent flying, they would try to sleep as much as they could. He was able to bring it back to Las Vegas in 1988, where it eventually was acquired by the McCarran Aviation Heritage Museum3 and restored to its pre-flight condition. 108E. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. Required fields are marked *. Thats why its so green around Blythe. , The first few weeks went by with fairly smooth sailing. However, he eventually conceded. Great read , thanks One of aviation's most delightful records was set in a Curtiss Robin by Douglas 'Wrong Way" Corrigan. After two unsuccessful attempts the year before, Fred and Algene Key flew Ole Miss up from Meridian, Mississippi on June 4 and did not touch the ground again until July 1, for a total time in the air of 653 hours and 34 minutes. It is either on loan or in storage. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. After three failed attempts, Timm found a new co-pilot and mechanic, John Wayne Cook and ultimately, they took off on December 4, 1958, at 3:52 pm. Almost twenty years after its famous flight, the Key family offered Ole Miss to the National Air Museum. Congratulation to Space X team ! The record-breaking flight departed from McCarran Field in Las Vegas on December 4, 1958. Acting on a hunch, and without telling Timm, Kuenzi also disconnected Timms alcohol-injection system. Kuenzi was familiar with this particular aircraft, and hadalready worked on it before. This three-seat monoplane flew in the spring of 1928 with a 90-hp Curtiss OX-5, the engine that had powered Curtiss JN-4 Jenny trainers in World War I. Robins offered flight characteristics as straightforward as their appealing lines and modest performance. The planes were Airco DH-4B Biplanes in the US Army Air Service. Your email address will not be published. Michael uses his MBA and corporate business experience to go behind the obvious in search of the real story. The truck was outfitted with a fuel tank, pump, and other support items. I flew for two hours before I recognized any lights or the cities. After two unsuccessful attempts in 1934, brothers Fred and Algene Key took off from Meridian, Mississippi, on June 4, 1935, and landed again 27 days later for a total flight time of 653 hours and 34 minutes. After two unsuccessful attempts the year before, Fred and Algene Key flew Ole Miss up from Meridian, Mississippi on June 4 and did not touch the ground again until July 1, for a total time in the air of 653 hours and 34 minutes. However, on occasion, they would venture farther west to Van Nuys or Los Angeles to take part in promotional radio and TV opportunities. They now would need at least 50 days in the air! Twice a day, the truck would rendezvous with the aircraft over a stretch of straight highway the Government had closed off. This special engine was then provided to Timm and Kuenzi. It took roughly three minutes to fill the belly tank. Timm convinced Doc that backing and publicizing an attempt to break the manned flight endurance world record was just the ticket. It was Timms belief that this alcohol injection system would help prevent the buildup of carbon in the combustion chambers. They were ultimately successful in their bid, also setting an impressive new endurance record that stood for almost a decade. Grossnick, Ross. Steve Timm, years after the historic flight, had this to say: Staying in the air for 65 days in a little plane the size of a Toyota, not landing. This site uses cookies to provide a quality user experience, to measure the audience and to show you personalized advertisements. The 95-gallon belly tank had an electric pump to transfer fuel to the main tank, and they also replumbed the oil lines to change oil and filters without shutting down the engine. Some time after the flight, Cook was asked by a reporter if he would ever try to replicate the stunt, to which he replied: Next time I feel in the mood to fly endurance, Im going to lock myself in a garbage can with the vacuum cleaner running, and have Bob serve me T-bone steaks chopped up in a thermos bottle. By using Coavmi, you agree to our use of this technology. The planes avionics included a Narco Omnigator Mk II and a Mitchell autopilot, but Timm and Kuenzi spent almost a year modifying the Cessna 172 to be mission appropriate. When the record was extended by a Stinson monoplane the following June, they took off again in the Robin on July 21, 1930, and set a new mark of 647 hours and 28 minutes. To push back the dark, they had flashlights and a string of Christmas lights powered by the wind generator. More - https://iiif.si.edu. During these occasions, they would haul up a series of five gallon fuel cans using a rope. Robin production took place in St. Louis, Missouri, in association with the Robertson Aircraft Corporation, a local fixed-base operation that ran the contract air mail route between St. Louis and Chicago (Major William B. Robertson had been one of Lindbergh's financial backers). So Timm contacted Continental Motors (the manufacturer of the current six cylinder, 145 hp engine), explained to them his plan, and got them to agree to supply a new engine for the plane. It wasnt until years later that Kuenzi found out exactly how they prepared the special engine. The Government suspended above ground nuclear testing on October 28th, 1958. Ole Miss varies from a typical Curtiss Robin by virtue of modifications made for the flight, including a new fuel tank, engine servicing catwalk, and a sliding top hatch for receiving supplies in flight. The Cessna would fly roughly 20 feet off the ground and use an electric winch to lower a hook and snag the refueling hose. The sales manager told a female co-worker to go down to the production line and pick the new 145 she liked the best. Over the course of the flight they refueled 128 times. An aircraft that fliesat 226 km/h and has been producedmore than 43 000 times in the world. Great article thanks for taking the time to research as Wikipedia has absolutely nothing about how the flight actually took place. In 1935, this Curtiss Robin established a world record for sustained flight, using air-to-air refueling. They decided to land on February 7, 1959, but before they could touch down, the paint on the tires was checked, and no scuff marks were found. My dad was in his early 30s and it almost killed him. This would also qualify them for a chance to earn $10,000 if their guess was closest to the actual time the plane stayed in the air. One of the most interesting and sought after of all flight records is for refueled, manned flight endurance. Kuenzi removed the 450-hour-since-new engine from the Cessna 172, installed the brand new special engine from Continental, and hooked up Timms alcohol-injection system. How did the record flight help with the marketing of the Hacienda? The lunar module represents one of humanitys greatest achievements: landing people on another heavenly body. Couple of jockey pilots surely would have been to obvious- instead needed the right 240 pound character to complete the crazy feat haha. He convinced the owner to fund an attempt to break the manned flight endurance record, with Hacienda Hotel featured prominently on the aircraft. By its surprising adventures, the Cessna 172 made an impact in the light aviation history. Cook summed up these miserable new circumstances in his log: Hard to stay awake in dark place cant use radio cant use electric fuel pump. So, with Doc committed to backing the flight with $100,000, and Timm serving as the primary pilot, they needed two more things: a co-pilot, and an aircraft. This time, it was due to burned exhaust valves in the special engine. They passed the existing record but decided to keep flying for as long as possible. To add to his stress, Heth and Burkhart had just landed The Old Scotchman, breaking the previous record. However, it absolutely looks like a GMC. More than 300 Robins were fitted with the surplus OX-5 and sold to the civil market at $4,000. During the flight, the Keys received fuel and supplies 432 times from another aircraft. Then, in 1927, Charles Lindbergh's historic flight from New York to Paris showed the world that the era of the monoplane was truly at hand. Add their name to the Museums Wall of Honor. The Cessna 172 is a high-wing single piston engine, which makes the view of the ground better and the landing easier. After two unsuccessful attempts the year before, Fred and Algene Key flew Ole Miss up from Meridian, Mississippi on June 4 and did not touch the ground again until July 1, for a total time in the air of 653 hours and 34 minutes. Hoping that the third time would be a charm, they again took to the skies. Learn more about: Privacy Policy. They received food, fuel, and supplies 432 times through a sliding roof hatch from another Robin. Farnborough Airshow Day 2 Roundup: What Did The Second Day Have In Store? In May, Australia's Qantas Airways announced it had ordered the aircraft to link Sydney to London or New York with nonstop flights. Not recognized as an official record by FAI because it did not exceed previous record by at least 1%. The average operating hour costs of a Cessna is around 150 per hour,which makes this four passengers plane a 38/hour/passenger. I wonder if perhaps the hand pump aided in giving them some physical exercise each day and some of the other failures actually just to keep em on their toes. By doing this he escaped the Russian air defence radars and landed on a bridge next to Moscows Red Square. There to greet the exhausted fliers on the evening of July 1 were 35,000 wildly cheering spectators. Once they had been used, the plastic bags were then disposed of over unpopulated areas in the desert around Blythe. Literally thousands have been built. June Was Exceptional For Singapore Airlines And Scoot, Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Navigate New Court Rulings On Work Rules, Arajet Now Has A Fleet Of Four Boeing 737 MAX Ready To Go, Breaking: Delta Air Lines Boosts Airbus A220 Order In Farnborough, Brussels Airlines Prepares To Fly 25,000 Festival Goers To Tomorrowland, Delta Air Lines Announces Huge Boeing 737 MAX 10 Order, Then There Were 5: Cypriot Carrier TUS Airways Takes Another Airbus A320. 8 Incidents In 10 Weeks: Whats Happening With SpiceJet? Photo: Qantas News Room. In 1935, this Curtiss Robin established a world record for sustained flight, using air-to-air refueling. In 1935, this Curtiss Robin established a world record for sustained flight, using air-to-air refueling. This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). Contact details will be send to you as soon as you have booked a flight. On 4 February 1959, the two pilots succeeded and achieved to fly 64 days, 22 hours, 19 minutes and five seconds without landing. A strong network of senior aviation contacts mixed with a boyhood passion for airplanes helps him share engaging content with fellow devotees. Wright J-6-5 engine. They made a low pass on the airfield to allow a chase car to paint white stripes on the aircraft's tires to ensure they didn't make any secret landings. Timm, who kept a diary during the flights, noted that at 4 AM one morning the entire sky lit up. Timm would later find out that he had witnessed one of the 57 above ground atomic bomb detonations set off during 1958 in the Nevada testing area2 65 miles to the northwest of Las Vegas. He told me about this project he was going to get involved in and wanted to know if Id be interested in helping him. The last thing Timm needed was a co-pilot. They landed at McCarran Field after being in the air for 64 days, 22 hours, and 19 minutes. The greatest record for sustained flight was set five years later in a Whirlwind-powered Curtiss Robin J-1 Deluxe named Ole Miss. In manned flight endurance, flying can be handled by one pilot, though this is not the recommended method. The planes oil lines were re-plumbed, allowing for the changing of engine oil and oil filters without shutting down the engine. Doc Bailey instructed his chefs at the Hacienda that they were to feed the crew healthy meals, made only from the freshest and finest ingredients. It was mid-January, and there was no moon that night. In 1958 two men in a Cessna took off on a nonstop 150,000-mile flight around the desert outside Las Vegas and set a record that still stands. Oil, food, water for washing, towels, and other supplies were also passed up to the aircraft during these refueling runs. That record, however, was smashed in 1986 by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeger (no relation to Chuck). Greg Timm, six years old at the time, recalls the incident fondly. A pathfinder truck was deployed roughly 300 feet ahead of the fuel truck to give the crew a visual reference. Over the course of the flight, this refueling process was repeated 128 times. One minor correction: the pickup in the pictures is not a Ford, its a GMCprobably a 1956 or 1957 model. But this was all about to change with the introduction of aerial refueling, something which would vastly increase the amount of time an airplane could stay in the air. In July 1929, Dale Jackson and Forest O'Brine set an impressive record in a Challenger-powered Robin, with the help of aerial refueling, remaining aloft for 420 hours and 17 minutes. Recognize your favorite air or space enthusiast. To avoid the appearance of this flight merely being a publicity stunt for the hotel, Doc came up with an inspired idea. Cook noted in his log that it was as black a night as Ive ever seen.. They had flown a little over 150,000 miles through the air, which was roughly equivalent to six times around the Earth. FAI does not differentiate between non-refueled and solar aircraft, Duration that a specific person continuously occupies the spacecraft while in orbit, Length of time an aircraft of a particular category spent in flight without landing. Others were powered by the 170-hp Curtiss Challenger (a six-cylinder, twin-row radial engine that was less than satisfactory) and the excellent 165-hp Wright J-6-5 Whirlwind. Finally, with all the modifications in place, it was time to take to the skies. Anders Clark was introduced to aviation a few short years ago, and has developed an interest in aviation history and what the future of aviation will bring. In place of the co-pilots seat, they installed a four foot by four foot, four inch thick foam pad. Timm and Cook worked out a schedule which had them flying in four hour shifts. But in spite of these losses, they pressed on. He frantically yelled to Timm to get back in the plane, and pull in the platform. 
I have been unable to find more than a few cursory sentences regarding this co-pilots role in the early attempts, and no identifying information. A metal catwalk on the forward section of the aircraft made in-flight maintenance and lubrication of the engine possible. In 1935, this Curtiss Robin established a world record for sustained flight, using air-to-air refueling. Excellent read !! Robert Timm died in 1976 and John Cook in 1995, both in Las Vegas, and the Hacienda Hotel was demolished in December 1996. On one occasion, after finishing the refueling and other necessary chores related to flying, Timm preprared for his daily hygiene. Good catch. Highlighted in this image are the propellers and engine of the Ole Miss. After they were satisfied with the Haciendas flying, they made their way south towards Blythe, which had lower and less mountainous terrain. Though the first few weeks passed without much incident, entries in Cooks journal began to reflect the hardships of the flight. Capt. Timm or Cook would stand on a platform outside the door and insert the hose into the belly tank, taking around three minutes to fill. Learn how your comment data is processed. The lack of sustained physical activity, constant engine noise, and daily chores were wearing on both men. Highlighted in this image are the tail and rudder of the Ole Miss. According to Cooks diary, We got a quart of bath water, a large towel, and soap every other day. Hygienic activities in particular would prove occasionally awkward. Kln: Wilhelm Herbst Verlag, 1995, 321. Timm and Cook had to be lifted out of the Cessna, and their record still stands today. He removed his clothes, lowered the platform out the co-pilots door, stepped out, and began brushing his teeth. This was to ensure that Timm and Cook didnt attempt to cheat and secretly land the plane at some remote airport when no one was looking. Finally, they decided to land on February 7th, 1959. During the flight, the Keys received fuel and supplies 432 times from another aircraft. The receiving plane managed to stay aloft for more than 37 hours. //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/1955_GMC_150_pickup_%28152-8%29.jpg. This is a (great!) The current record of 64 days, 22 hours, and 19 minutes was set in 1958, by Robert Timm and John Cook. 2 As it turned out, this would be one of the last test detonations. Timm and co-pilot A took to the skies twice in an attempt to break the endurance record, but each flight was cut short by mechanical problems. None of these three flight lasted longer than 17 days. This greatly reduced the engines power, making it difficult to climb after refueling with a full load. With slightly less fanfare than Bailey desired (this was their fourth attempt, after all) on 4 December 1958, at 3:52 PM, Timm and Cook lifted off from McCarran Field in Las Vegas. Qantas has selected a modified A350-1000 as its preferred Project Sunrise aircraft.
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