In 1959, Robert Timm and John Cook set a record for the longest non-stop flight in a light aircraft. They flew a Cessna 170B, registration N836D, from McCarran Airfield, Las Vegas, Nevada, to Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, New York, without making any stops. The flight lasted 64 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds.
During this flight, Timm and Cook faced many challenges, including severe weather conditions, icing, and navigation problems. They had to refuel the aircraft in the air, using a hose and bucket from a chase plane, and they also had to fly through thunderstorms and turbulence.
Despite these challenges, Timm and Cook successfully completed the flight, setting a new world record for the longest non-stop flight in a light aircraft. Their achievement was recognized by the Guinness World Records and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).
It’s worth mentioning that this flight was done for charity and the proceeds were donated to the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund, which raises money for cancer research.
