On this day in aviation history: In 1982 the Spirit of Texas is known around the world. H. Ross Perot, Jr. and Jay W. Coburn completed their around-the-world helicopter flight when they landed the “Spirit of Texas” at their starting point, Dallas, Texas. They had flown the single-engine Bell 206L-1 LongRanger II more than 26,000 miles in 246.5 flight hours over 29 days, 3 hours and 8 minutes. They began their journey on September 1st, 1982. Perot and Coburn traveled across twenty-six countries, establishing a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale record for helicopter speed around the world, eastbound, in the process. Their average speed? A whopping 35.399 miles per hour. They also established a series of point-to-point speed records during the flight. Perot purchased the LongRanger, call sign “November-Three-Nine-One-One-Zulu,” for $750,000 specifically for his around-the-world attempt. Modifications started immediately and over the next three weeks an additional 151-gallon fuel tank was added giving the helicopter approximately 8 hours endurance. “Pop-out floats”—inflatable pontoons that can be deployed for emergency landings on water—were also installed. The helicopter carried a life raft and other emergency equipment and supplies. Additional communication and navigation equipment and radar was also installed. During the circumnavigation, the helicopter burned 56,000 pounds of jet fuel and made 56 fueling stops, including aboard a pre-positioned container ship in the North Pacific Ocean. The helicopter was donated to the Smithsonian Institution and is on display at the Steven V. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 20:16:10 +0000
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