Around-the-World Flight Centennial Celebrations Planned
In 1924, four highly modified Douglas World Cruisers took off from Seattle on the first flight around the globe.
The Commemorative Air Force’s B-29, dubbed ‘Fifi,’ is scheduled to participate in a World Flight Centennial flyover. [Courtesy: Commemorative Air Force]
What better way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first flight around the world than with a ceremonial flyover of aircraft that have also circumnavigated the globe?
The event takes place in the Seattle area September 28 starting at the Museum of Flight located at King County International Airport/Boeing Field (KBFI). Additional events and celebrations are planned for Magnuson Park, the location of the former Sand Point Naval Air Station, where the four highly modified Douglas World Cruisers took off on April 6, 1924.
Each of the four aircraft was named for a U.S. city—the Chicago, New Orleans, Seattle, and Boston—and each was manned by two U.S. Army Air Service aviators. Since aircraft lacked modern day avionics, navigation was done by pilotage and dead reckoning.
The Chicago and the New Orleans were the only aircraft to complete the itinerary, landing at Sand Point Naval Air Station on September 28, 1924. The crew was awarded the National Aeronautic Association's Mackay Trophy.
Celebrating the Centennial
Weather permitting Saturday, aircraft will launch from KBFI around 2 p.m. PST, heading east to overfly Magnuson Park. In the 1940s the property was known as Sand Point Naval Air Station and utilized as a training and supply facility until it was decommissioned in 1970. The runways and several buildings were demolished.
In 1975 a large portion of the property was given to the city of Seattle and named for U.S. Senator Warren Magnuson, a former naval officer from Seattle. When overflying the park, outlines of the runways are still visible.
Although it is no longer an airport, a celebration of the world flight centennial is also scheduled Saturday at Magnuson Park.
Participating Aircraft
The majority of the aircraft taking part in the flyover celebration have also completed around-the-world flights, said Museum of Flight spokesperson Ted Huetter. Those aircraft include:
- Gulfstream Turbo Commander 900, piloted by Robert DeLaurentis, who in 2020 flew pole-to-pole around the world. On September 29 there will be a screening of Peace Pilot, a documentary about DeLaurentis' journey, with the aviator on hand to answer questions.
- Bonanza P35 V-tail, flown by Adrian Eichhorn, who made the trip around the world flying eastbound and performed a solo flight over the North Pole.
- Homebuilt Lancair IV flown by Bill Harrelson, who set a speed record in class C-1/D, a world record for distance 8,114 sm, solo circumnavigated over the North and South poles, and flew westbound around the world.
- Lancair Columbia 300, piloted by Harry Anderson, who has flown around the world twice —once heading west, once heading eastbound—and flown solo over the North Pole as well as to all seven continents.
- Homebuilt Long E-Z of Patrick Elliot and Linda Walker. The pair have flown to six continents.
- Mooney M20J flown by CarolAnn Garratt and Carol Foy, who have made the around-the-world flight three times and set a speed record for this class of airplane.
- Homebuilder RV-9A flown by John Koehler, who made the trip around the world eastbound.
- Cessna 210 Centurion flown by Ed Galkin, who has made the journey around the world four times.
A fair amount of vintage aircraft will be taking part in the flyover. They include:
- Bellanca CH-400 Skyrocket Miss Veedol flown by Tim Moomaw and Greg Brizendine. In 1931, pilot Clyde Pangborn and copilot Hugh Herndon were the first to cross the Pacific nonstop. The pair flew the Miss Veedol from Misawa, Japan, to Wenatchee, Washington.
- Cessna 180, like the one used by Jerrie Mack in 1964 when she became the first woman to fly around in the world.
- Piper Apache. In 1964, Joan Merriam Smith flew a Piper Twin equatorially, and solo, around the world.
- Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser. In 1947, pilots Clifford Evans and Geroge Truman circled the earth twice in their Piper Super Cruisers, covering 22,436 miles and becoming the first pilots of light aircraft to make the journey.
The Commemorative Air Force B-29, FIFI, which is one of two airworthy Superfortresses left in the world, will also be participating in the flyover. The large bomber has been visiting Seattle this week.
It is a homecoming of sorts for this particular B-29 as it rolled out of the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington—justy over the hill from Boeing Field—in 1945.
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