First non-stop flight around the world. Lucky Lady II,the Boeing B-50A aircraft that was the first aircraft to fly non-stop around the world. The flight took 94 hours,covered a distance of 37,742 kilometres,and was completed on 2 March 1949. The US Air Force bomber,from the 43rd Bomb Group,had a crew of fourteen,and took off from Carswell Air Force Base,Texas,USA. It was refuelled in the air four times. The first non-stop flight around the world without refuelling would not take place until 1986,nearly 20 years later. Photographed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base,Arizona,USA |