Happy April Fool’s Day! On a day typically filled with practical jokes and hoaxes, we’re taking a look at five amazing aviation world records. No joking around here; these pilots set out to achieve the impossible, and made it happen. (Really!)
Longest Career as a Pilot: This record is held by Col. Clarence Cornish of Indianapolis, Indiana. Col. Cornish piloted planes from May 6, 1918 until December 4, 1995, for a total of 77 years and 212 days. He died 18 days after his last flight.
Youngest Person to Fly Solo Around the World: Matthew Guthmiller (USA) achieved this record in 2014. His circumnavigation began on May 31st and was completed on July 14th in El Cajon, California. Guthmiller was 19 years, 7 months, and 15 days old.
First Female Combat Pilot: Sabiha Gökçen (Turkey) enrolled in the Military Aviation Academy in Eskisehir in 1936, where she undertook training at the First Aircraft Regiment. She flew fighter and bomber planes to become the first Turkish female aviator and the world’s first female combat pilot. Gökçen achieved approximately 8,000 hours, 32 of which were combat missions, during her flying career.
Most Consecutive Loops Flown in Close Formation by Fixed Wing Aircraft: This record was achieved by The Blades Aerobatic Display Team (UK) at Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire, UK, on October 20, 2011. The team included pilots Myles Garland, Dave Slow, Andy Evans, and Mark Cutmore, who flew 26 consecutive loops in four Extra 300 aircraft.
First Flight Over the South Pole: Richard Byrd (USA) set this record on November 29, 1929. Byrd’s round trip to and from the expedition’s base on the Ross Ice Shelf took 19 hours.
These records were found via Guinness World Records. For more amazing world records, visit http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com.