New non-stop distance record set.
by Ron Herron.
02/25/2004.
It seems Andy Keech isn't satisfied with 3 records for 'speed over a recognised course'. Flying home to Frederick, Md. after an annual condition inspection in North Little Rock, Ar., he decided to make a non-stop flight to Hickory, N.C., covering a distance of 993 km (612 statute miles) in 5 hours and 45 minutes, and giving him an average ground speed of 172 km/h (106 mph)!
The old record from a year ago, by Barry Jones of England, was recently ratified and now has been surpassed by Andy's effort. Prior to that, it was held by Ken Wallis, and Igor Bensen .
- Barry Jones (UK)
941.25 km (584.8 s.m.), 01/13/2004
Culdrose (UK) - Wick (UK) - Kenneth H. Wallis (UK)
874.32 km(543 s.m.), 09/28/1975
Lydd (UK) - Wick Airfield (UK) - Igor B. Bensen (USA)
133.20 km(82 s.m.), 05/15/1967
Raleigh, NC (USA) - Winston-Salem, NC (USA)
Andy landed in Hickory with two hours of fuel left, only seeking (for now) to beat the previously held record. He also left North Little Rock with the tanks still able to hold two more gallons without exceeding the weight limit. He could have flown from North Little Rock to the Atlantic, besting his new record by over 200 miles. Total tankage on Andy's ship is 50 gallons (usable) in 3 seperate tanks. The extended-range tanks are situated on the aircraft's Longitudinal Center of Gravity, and do not affect the trim of the aircraft in flight as fuel burns off.
The claim has been filed and is awaiting ratification from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale of Lausanne, Switzerland.
The record is for 'Distance without landing', and is verified by tower personnel or by Official Observers of the U.S. National Aeronautic Association.
Listed below is the pending claim:
Sub-class : E-3a (Autogyros : take-off weight less than 500 kg)
Category : General
Group 1 : piston engine
Distance without landing : 993 km
Date of flight: 22/02/2004
Pilot: Andrew C. KEECH (USA)
Course/place: Little Rock, AR (USA) - Hickory, NC (USA)
Rotorcraft:
Little Wing LW-5
Database ID 8737
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