JohnnyQ
JohnnyQ
  • Threads: 262
  • Posts: 4021
Joined: Nov 3, 2009
August 7th, 2021 at 4:29:22 AM permalink
I've seen the Hacienda Cessna 172 suspended from the ceiling in McCarran many, many times, but I did not realize that it is the plane used to set the WORLD ENDURANCE RECORD ( with refuling ) with a flight of 64 days back in 1959.

So like Paul Harvey used to say, “Now you know…the rest of the story."

Pretty cool imho.






https://www.mccarran.com/Museum

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2008/march/01/endurance-test-circa-1958

Some interesting local TV video:

https://news3lv.com/features/video-vault/video-vault-plane-in-record-breaking-flight-remains-at-mccarran-as-a-piece-of-history
Last edited by: JohnnyQ on Aug 7, 2021
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
AlanMendelson
AlanMendelson
  • Threads: 167
  • Posts: 5937
Joined: Oct 5, 2011
August 7th, 2021 at 10:05:10 AM permalink
Interesting story. I've wondered why that plane was hanging and didnt realize it was more than a promotional plane.
billryan
billryan
  • Threads: 240
  • Posts: 16282
Joined: Nov 2, 2009
August 7th, 2021 at 10:23:23 AM permalink
I once missed my flight and found myself with about six hours to kill at the airport so I read every exhibit in the place. It's an amazing piece of history, and I love that they had a now classic sports car as their crash vehicle, but I am dubious that this feat happened as claimed.
It's like going to Minnesota and seeing Paul Bunyans axe or West Virginia to see John Henry's hammer.
I asked two Cessna owners and they said it would be almost impossible for a small plane to stay aloft for two months without needing multiple services. One was familiar with the story and said he felt they must have made numerous landings during the time. It's not like they flew in a loop over the strip. They flew all over the desert south west of Vegas and could have landed anywhere anytime without anyone knowing.
It makes a great story, though.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
AlanMendelson
AlanMendelson
  • Threads: 167
  • Posts: 5937
Joined: Oct 5, 2011
August 7th, 2021 at 11:48:25 AM permalink
Quote: billryan

I once missed my flight and found myself with about six hours to kill at the airport so I read every exhibit in the place. It's an amazing piece of history, and I love that they had a now classic sports car as their crash vehicle, but I am dubious that this feat happened as claimed.
It's like going to Minnesota and seeing Paul Bunyans axe or West Virginia to see John Henry's hammer.
I asked two Cessna owners and they said it would be almost impossible for a small plane to stay aloft for two months without needing multiple services. One was familiar with the story and said he felt they must have made numerous landings during the time. It's not like they flew in a loop over the strip. They flew all over the desert south west of Vegas and could have landed anywhere anytime without anyone knowing.
It makes a great story, though.



After all these years has anyone spilled the beans about secret landings?
billryan
billryan
  • Threads: 240
  • Posts: 16282
Joined: Nov 2, 2009
August 7th, 2021 at 12:11:27 PM permalink
Quote: AlanMendelson

After all these years has anyone spilled the beans about secret landings?



Why would they? It was a publicity stunt that raised money for charity. It's not as if someone would write a book bout it.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
JohnnyQ
JohnnyQ
  • Threads: 262
  • Posts: 4021
Joined: Nov 3, 2009
August 7th, 2021 at 2:33:51 PM permalink
Quote: billryan


They flew all over the desert south west of Vegas and could have landed anywhere anytime without anyone knowing.

Sure, I suppose that's possible.

Quote: billryan

It makes a great story, though.

Yep.
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
LoquaciousMoFW
LoquaciousMoFW
  • Threads: 1
  • Posts: 194
Joined: Aug 24, 2014
August 7th, 2021 at 2:47:16 PM permalink
Quote: billryan

. They flew all over the desert south west of Vegas and could have landed anywhere anytime without anyone knowing.
It makes a great story, though.


True, but then they would need to explain how the paint on the landing gear tires got all messed up.
billryan
billryan
  • Threads: 240
  • Posts: 16282
Joined: Nov 2, 2009
August 7th, 2021 at 3:25:35 PM permalink
Quote: LoquaciousMoFW

True, but then they would need to explain how the paint on the landing gear tires got all messed up.




Does Chris Angel explain how he can sit on a platform for forty days without going to the bathroom? It's all part of the illusion. I suspect it was a hoax. Just my gut feeling and opinion. It's no big deal. It was a publicity stunt that raised money for a charity. Either way, it's a great way to kill an hour at the airport.

BTW- I was born December 5th 1958 in Japan so this flight took off the day my family learned I was born.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
billryan
billryan
  • Threads: 240
  • Posts: 16282
Joined: Nov 2, 2009
August 7th, 2021 at 3:27:38 PM permalink
How the plane was found after many years is a pretty interesting story in its own right.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
JohnnyQ
JohnnyQ
  • Threads: 262
  • Posts: 4021
Joined: Nov 3, 2009
August 8th, 2021 at 12:13:16 PM permalink
Quote: LoquaciousMoFW

True, but then they would need to explain how the paint on the landing gear tires got all messed up.

I didn't know what this referred to until I read another article:

Their flight commenced on December 4, 1958, at 3:52 p.m. at McCarran Airport, Las Vegas. Soon after getting airborne they made a low pass over a chase vehicle for white stripes to be painted on their tyres with a large roller. If they should attempt a clandestine landing for rest, recuperation or repairs at any time during the marathon flight, the special marks would get erased or defaced.

http://www.sps-aviation.com/story/?id=1706#:~:text=Robert%20Elgin%20Timm%20was%20born,as%20a%20slot%20machine%20mechanic.

ANYWAY, when you come through that terminal in McCarran with your friends NOW you can impress them with your aviation knowledge about the Flight Endurance Record.

Here is another well-researched and entertaining article:

https://disciplesofflight.com/flight-endurance/
Last edited by: JohnnyQ on Aug 8, 2021
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
billryan
billryan
  • Threads: 240
  • Posts: 16282
Joined: Nov 2, 2009
August 8th, 2021 at 12:50:01 PM permalink
They made fuel passes with the chase vehicle on a regular basis. If the white stripes were applied once, why couldn't they be applied twice or thrice or a dozen times.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
DRich
DRich
  • Threads: 86
  • Posts: 11597
Joined: Jul 6, 2012
August 8th, 2021 at 3:36:37 PM permalink
I have probably flown in and out of Mccarran close to 1000 times and never read the story of that airplane
At my age, a "Life In Prison" sentence is not much of a deterrent.
Keeneone
Keeneone
  • Threads: 21
  • Posts: 1422
Joined: Aug 16, 2014
August 8th, 2021 at 4:20:47 PM permalink
Quote: DRich

I have probably flown in and out of Mccarran close to 1000 times and never read the story of that airplane


Right? I have seen it many times but never wondered why it was there.

----------

Also, McCarran is no more...name change coming soon for the Las Vegas airport (fall?):

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-agency-clears-way-rename-las-vegas-airport-after-democrat-senator-harry-reid-2021-06-24/

https://news3lv.com/news/local/harry-reid-international-airport-not-quite-yet

https://www.casino.org/news/las-vegas-airport-name-change-for-harry-reid-possible-by-fall/
JohnnyQ
JohnnyQ
  • Threads: 262
  • Posts: 4021
Joined: Nov 3, 2009
August 8th, 2021 at 5:07:57 PM permalink
Quote: DRich

I have probably flown in and out of Mccarran close to 1000 times and never read the story of that airplane

Yes, exactly ! I had not either, so thought this was an educational / entertaining story to share. I have flown in / out of McCarran dozens of times.

There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
TDVegas
TDVegas
  • Threads: 3
  • Posts: 1186
Joined: Oct 30, 2018
August 8th, 2021 at 10:38:32 PM permalink
Refueling must have been difficult. Same for bathroom issues.
Dieter
Administrator
Dieter
  • Threads: 16
  • Posts: 5479
Joined: Jul 23, 2014
August 8th, 2021 at 10:42:21 PM permalink
Quote: TDVegas

Refueling must have been difficult. Same for bathroom issues.



Flying around over the desert, it's unlikely that sand will complain about falling blue ice.
May the cards fall in your favor.
JohnnyQ
JohnnyQ
  • Threads: 262
  • Posts: 4021
Joined: Nov 3, 2009
August 9th, 2021 at 3:48:00 AM permalink
Quote: TDVegas

Refueling must have been difficult. Same for bathroom issues.

Re-fueling was a hassle, I am sure, but maybe they looked forward to it because it gave them something to do every day.

I suspect the most difficult aspects would have been:

1) Sheer Boredom

2) Sleep Deprivation
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
JohnnyQ
JohnnyQ
  • Threads: 262
  • Posts: 4021
Joined: Nov 3, 2009
August 9th, 2021 at 7:39:38 AM permalink
Just interesting while we are on the Topic of Flying and the Hacienda.



https://vintagelasvegas.com/post/181715192054/hacienda-lockheed-constellation-willow-run
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
  • Jump to: