Round-the-World Flights

"Friendship-One" Round-the-World Speed Record Benefiting Children

Page 7z (rev: 1000)

Flown Cover	Arrival Postmark	Pilot, Clay Lacy	B-747SP in flight	At the Gate

The goal of the flight of "Friendship One" was to set a Round-the-World speed record. 
United Airlines donated one of their B-747SP (Special Performance - N147UA) aircraft 
for this flight. The flight was flown by a volunteer crew from United Airlines 
captained by Clay Lacy. He was supported by 2 co-pilots, 2 flight engineers,  8 
cabin attendants and 2 ground service personnel.

A secondary goal of this RTW flight was to raise funds (approximately $500,000) to 
benefit children's organizations around the-world through the Friendship Foundation.  
The Friendship Foundation had been established by Clay Lacy, Joe Clark and Bruce 
McCaw and was the non-profit sponsor of this RTW flight. Some representative kid's 
organizations who benefitted from this RTW  flight were the Children's Hospital of 
Seattle, UNICEF, City of Hope Children's Cancer Fund, EAA Aviation Center and the 
Museum of Flight Children's Scholarship Fund.

The aircraft engine manufacturer, Pratt and Whitney made a major contribution toward 
the purchase of fuel. Refueling was handled by volunteer United Airlines ground crew 
personnel under the direction of Pete Torralbas.  Passengers booked their seats by 
paying a minimum donation of $5,000 to the Friendship Foundation.  The 141 person 
manifest included such notable names as Apollo 11 astronaut, Neal Armstrong; former 
test pilots, Bob Hoover and General Laurence Craigie and Moya Lear, widow of Lear Jet 
founder, Bill Lear.

The time to beat for this RTW flight was 45H 25M 55S, set by a Gulfstream III business 
jet.  The Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle established an elaborate ground 
base communication center called Mission Control to provide hourly updates and track 
the progress of "Friendship One" en route.  After departing Seattle WA on January 28, 
1988 (7:14 pm), the 747SP flew nonstop to Athens where 46,000 pounds of fuel were taken 
on board, drinking water was replenished, the lavatories were serviced and the oil was 
checked.  Olympic Airways provided all ground services free of charge.  The same process 
was repeated at Taipei Taiwan. The time spent on the ground was limited to not more than
45 minutes and the passengers did not deplane. 

The 23,100-mile route was selected based on historic wind patterns; the stops (Athens 
Greece and Taipei Taiwan) were chosen because of their strategic locations, refueling
facilities and good weather. "Friendship One" returned to Seattle WA on January 30th 
(8:45 am). 

The "Friendship One" flight was a complete success, establishing a new RTW speed record 
of 36H 54M 15M.  This record lasted less than a month when it was beaten by a Gulfstream
IV business jet, which made the trip in 36H 8M. 	

Itinerary:

Departed Boeing Field Seattle WA on 01/28/88 @ 7:14 pm 
      Athens Central Airport, Athens Greece ---- 8,350 miles 
      Taipei International Airport, Taipei Taiwan ---- 7,180 miles
Arrived Boeing Field Seattle WA on 01/30/88 @ 8:45 am ---- 7,570 miles

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