Round-the-World Flights

Gluckman Solo Round-the-World Flight

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Similar Meyers 200A	Gluckmann w/Plane	Headline	Magazine	Title #5

Peter Gluckmann was known as the "Flying Watchmaker." He had been flying for almost ten years hopping oceans on an almost routine basis since 1953. He wanted to become the biggest man (250 lbs) to fly the smallest plane round-the-world breaking the speed record for a solo flight rtw.

He chose a Meyers 200A single 260 HP (Continental IO-470D) engine, low wing plane built by Meyers Aircraft Company to make this record-breaking attempt. He added extra ferry fuel tanks and N485C carried "Experimental" markings. His flight plan was made to Federation Aeronautique Internationnale (FAI) standards and his flight log documented 23,765 flown miles.

He held the solo RTW speed record (29D 6H 9M) until 1961 when Max Conrad broke this record. Later that same year (1959), Peter Gluckmann disappeared at sea after departing from Tokyo on another record breaking flight attempt. On his last radio transmission to Tokyo, he stated that his engine temperature was above redline.

Departed San Francisco, CA 08/22/59 
   Mazatlan, Mexico 
   San Jose, Guatemala
   Puerto Barrios, Guatemala
   Kingston, Jamaica 
   San Juan, Puerto Rico		08/26/59 (See Note 1)
   Santa Maria, Azores
   Lisbon, Portugal
   Benghazi, Libya
   Cairo, Egypt 
   Karachi, Pakistan			08/30/59 (See Note 2)
   New Delhi, India			09/01/59
   Calcutta, India			09/02/59 (See Note 3)
   Bangkok, Thailand     	    		 (See Note 4)
   Manila, Philippines				 (See Note 5)
   Hong Kong 
   Tokyo, Japan				09/06/59 (See Note 6)
   Wake Island				09/15/59 (See Note 7)	
   Honolulu, HI				09/17/59 (See Note 8)
Arrived San Francisco, CA 09/20/59 

Note 1: Atlantic crossing took 18 hours.		
Note 2: Departure delayed because of sore eye.
Note 3: Bad weather forced an alternate landing in Bangkok.
Note 4: Auto-pilot became in-operative.
Note 5: Cyclone "Louise" forced alternate landing in Hong Kong.
Note 6: Two false starts for his Pacific crossing due to rough engine/vibrations.
Note 7: Delayed flight awaiting replacement voltage regulator/battery.
Note 8: Crossed the "International Date Line."

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