Australian Jumbo Jet Sets 2 Records: Far and Away
An Australian jumbo jet touched down in Sydney today after a record-breaking nonstop flight from London.
The 11,150-mile flight set at least two records. Besides a long-distance flight record, the jet set a speed record, taking only 20 hours and nine minutes. The flight also marked the first time a commercial airliner had made the England-to-Australia trip without a break.
The 367-seat Qantas 747-400, named “City of Canberra,” carried only 24 people and a cricket ball during its 20 hours and nine minutes aloft. The baggage of the passengers and crew followed on another Qantas flight to reduce weight.
The aircraft’s normal range is 8,000 miles with a full passenger and cargo load, but the only item of cargo was a souvenir cricket ball from the last cricket test match between England and Australia--which Australia won--for Prime Minister Bob Hawke.
The previous record for a nonstop commercial flight was held by a South African Airways Boeing 747-SP jet that flew from Seattle to Cape Town, covering 10,350 miles.
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