The longest flight ever took off from Las Vegas in 1958 and landed in 1959, covering more distance than 6 trips around the Earth

The longest flight ever didn’t just go around the Earth, but stayed in the air for 64 days straight, a record set in 1958 that still hasn’t been broken.

Pilots Robert Timm and John Cook flew a modified Cessna 172 nonstop from December 4, 1958, to February 7, 1959, circling the skies above Las Vegas.

Thanks to in-air refueling from a truck on the ground and supply drops, they kept going without ever touching down.

Their total distance was roughly 150,000 miles, equal to more than six laps around the Earth.

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How exactly did they pull off the longest flight ever?

Here’s how they pulled it off: the Cessna 172, nicknamed Hacienda after the Las Vegas hotel sponsoring the attempt, was stripped down and modified to stretch its endurance.

According to CNN Travel, they fitted an extra fuel tank, removed non-essential interior bits, and used rudimentary autopilot to help share the workload.

Refueling mid-flight was a wild operation: a truck would drive along a straight road, match speed with the plane flying low, and hose up fuel into the auxiliary tank.

Food, water, other supplies also came via similar methods.

The mental and physical strain on Timm and Cook was enormous.

They took turns sleeping, but with engine noise, vibrations, and cramped space their rest was hardly restful.

They celebrated holidays in the air (yes, Christmas Day was spent flying), fixed failures on the fly, and kept their nerves sharp despite the monotony and challenges.

And at the end of the day, they traveled a distance equal to more than six times around the Earth, cementing their names in history.

Where is the Hacienda Cessna 172 now?

The longest flight ever remains one of the most remarkable endurance records in aviation history.

People always remember the achievements made by supersonic aircraft like Concorde, but many are unaware of the amazing feat made possible by Timm and Cook (insert Apple CEO joke here).

According to Guinness World Records, no manned flight has yet broken the duration record set by the two pioneering pilots.

Some unmanned aircraft, like solar-powered drones, have approached or nearly matched their time aloft, but the human factor and this particular method of refueling make the 1958-59 Cessna flight unique.

After all, while certain aircraft are capable of refueling mid-air today, it’s still not commonplace, even in 2025.

The Hacienda Cessna 172 now hangs proudly above the baggage claim at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, a time capsule from an age when endurance meant grit, not just range.

So next time you groan about a long flight, imagine being in a two-seater for more than two months, living off pure sandwiches and determination.

Suddenly, that New York to London flight that you flew for just $129 doesn’t seem so bad anymore.

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