Aviation History - Wiley Post

Discussions on History. Please keep on topic & friendly. Provocative & one sided political posts will be deleted.

Aviation History - Wiley Post

Postby Felix/FFDS » Thu Jul 22, 2004 5:55 am

JULY 22, 1933 Wiley Post flies solo around the world


American aviator Wiley Post returns to Floyd Bennett Field in New York, having flown solo around the world in 7 days, 18 hours, and 49 minutes. He was the first aviator to accomplish the feat.

Post, instantly recognizable by the patch he wore over one eye, began the journey on July 15, flying nonstop to Berlin. After a brief rest, he flew on to the Soviet Union, where he made several stops before returning to North America, with stops in Alaska, Canada, and finally a triumphant landing at his starting point in New York.

Two years earlier, Post had won fame when he successfully flew around the northern part of the earth with aviator Harold Gatty. For his solo around-the-world flight in 1933, he flew a slightly greater distance--15,596 miles--in less time. For both flights, he used the Winnie Mae, a Lockheed Vega monoplane that was equipped with a Sperry automatic pilot and a direction radio for Post's solo journey. In August 1935, he was attempting to fly across the North Pole to the USSR with American humorist Will Rogers when both men were killed in a crash near Point Barrow, Alaska.
Felix/FFDS
User avatar
Felix/FFDS
Administrator
Administrator
 
Posts: 16776435
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2001 9:42 am
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: Aviation History - Wiley Post

Postby ozzy72 » Thu Jul 22, 2004 6:21 am

Wow, 71 years ago! Hard to believe man had been flying less than 3 decades when this incredible feat was achieved :o
Image
There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!
User avatar
ozzy72
Administrator
Administrator
 
Posts: 33284
Joined: Fri May 24, 2002 4:45 am
Location: Madsville


Return to History

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 112 guests