This Day in Aviation History
April 17th, 1944
Howard Hughes sets a new US transcontinental speed record, flying a Lockheed Constellation.
 
On April 17, 1944, the second production C-69, piloted by Howard Hughes and TWA president Jack Frye, flew from Burbank, California, to Washington, D.C., in 6 hours and 57 minutes (c. 2,300 mi/3,701 km at an average 330.9 mph/532.5 km/h). On the return trip, the aircraft stopped at Wright Field to give Orville Wright his last flight, more than 40 years after his historic first flight. He commented that the Constellation’s wingspan was longer than the distance of his first flight….
 
Source:
Wikipedia, Lockheed Constellation: http://gstv.us/1b8wPF5
 
YouTube, TWA Constellation Flight Record – Burbank To D.C.:
http://gstv.us/1yy1shu
 
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Photo from: http://gstv.us/267tAWo
 
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