Friendship One

Friendship One was a successful attempt at beating the round-the-world air speed record.

See also: Friendship One (Star Trek: Voyager)

The flight was conducted from January 29 to January 30, 1988, and was operated by a Boeing 747SP owned by United Airlines.[1] A charitable foundation, the Friendship Foundation, was established and all money went to children's charities.[2] A ticket on the flight cost USD $5,000, and, in total, the flight raised about $500,000.[2] A total of 141 passengers were on board, including Neil Armstrong and Bill Lear's widow, Moya.[1][2]

The previous speed record of 45 hours, 26 minutes, and 55 seconds was set by a Gulfstream III business jet.[1] Friendship One, captained by Clay Lacy, followed a 23,125-mile route from Seattle, Washington to refueling stops in Athens and Taipei, and back to Seattle.[1] It completed the trip in 36 hours, 54 minutes, and 15 seconds.[1] Later in 1988, a Gulfstream IV made a similar eastbound circumnavigation in 36 hours, 8 minutes, which stands as the world record as of 2013.[3]

References
  1. "Round-the-World Mark Aids Charity". The New York Times. January 31, 1988. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  2. "Aboard Friendship One: A 6-Mile-High House Party". The Los Angeles Times. February 1, 1988. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  3. "Gulfstream G650 sets around-the-world record". Savannah Morning News. October 22, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
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