From the London Evening Standard:
Pilot sets world record
10 November 2005
A Boeing 777 plane has landed at Heathrow Airport after completing a record-breaking non-stop flight.
Piloted by American captain Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, the plane touched
down in west London following a 12,000-mile easterly-heading flight
from Hong Kong.The plane, carrying 35 passengers, beat the existing non-stop passenger
airline record of 10,823 miles achieved by another Boeing 777.Painted in Boeing’s distinctive blue colours, the aircraft touched down
at 1.13pm UK time after a flight of 22 hours and 42 minutes.Three Heathrow fire crews shot a celebratory water spray over the
aircraft as it taxied to a halt after a journey of 13,422 miles.
Okay, I have two questions…
- Why on earth would anyone choose to be on an airplane for 22 hours and 42 minutes straight?
- Only 35 passengers on a Boeing 777? No wonder the airlines are in trouble!