List of flight endurance records

The flight endurance record is the longest amount of time an aircraft of a particular category spent in flight without landing. It can be a solo event, or multiple people can take turns piloting the aircraft, as long as all pilots remain in the aircraft. The limit initially was the amount of fuel that could be stored for the flight, but aerial refueling extended that parameter. Due to safety concerns, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) no longer recognizes new records for the duration of crewed airplane or glider flights and has never recognized any duration records for helicopters.

Airplane

Non-refueled, crewed

Duration (dd:hh:mm:ss) Date Location Pilots Aircraft Comments Reference09:00:03:44December 14–23, 1986Edwards Air Force Base, US, circumnavigationDick Rutan and Jeana YeagerRutan VoyagerSmithsonian National Air and Space Museum , accessed August 21, 201004:21:51:00June 28 to July 3, 2015Nagoya, Japan – Kalaeloa Airport, Hawaii, United States (8263 kilometres)André BorschbergSolar Impulse 2Solar plane, without any fuel; also longest solo airplane flight of any typeEmma Howard, "Solar Impulse lands in Hawaii after longest non-stop solo flight in history ", The Guardian, Friday 3 July 2015 (page visited on 5 July 2015).03:12:32:00May 25–28, 1931Jacksonville, Florida, USWalter Edwin Lees and Frederic BrossyBellanca J-2 Last record recognized by FAIFédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9453 , accessed August 21, 201003:04:45:00February 8–11, 2004Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USSteve FossettGlobal FlyerFAI Record ID #13083 - Distance FAI. Retrieved: 18 September 2014.FAI Record ID #13081 - Distance FAI. Retrieved: 18 September 2014.03:03:23:07February 26 to March 1, 1931La Sénia, AlgeriaLucien Bossoutrot and Maurice RossiBlériot 110Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9513 , accessed August 21, 201002:19:13:55May 30 to June 2, 1930Montecelio, ItalyUmberto Maddalena and Fausto CecconiSavoia-Marchetti S.64Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9515 , accessed August 21, 201002:17:25:00July 5–7, 1928Dessau, GermanyJohann Risztics and Wilhelm ZimmermannJunkers W 33Also surpassed the refueled recordFédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9517 , accessed August 21, 201002:04:22:31.8August 3–5, 1927Dessau, GermanyCornelius Edzard and Johann RiszticsJunkers W 33Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9454 , accessed August 21, 201002:03:11:25April 12–14, 1927Long Island, New York, USClarence Duncan Chamberlin and Bertrand Blanchard AcostaWright-Bellanca WB-2 "Columbia"Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9451 , accessed August 21, 201001:21:11:59August 7–9, 1925Chartres, FranceMaurice Drouhin and Jules LandryFarman F.60 GoliathFédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9294 , accessed August 21, 201001:13:59:10July 16–17, 1924Chartres, FranceEtienne Coupet and Maurice DrouhinFarman F-60Also surpassed the refueled recordFédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9452 , accessed August 21, 201001:12:04:34April 16–17, 1923Wilbur Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, USOakley George Kelly and John Arthur MacreadyFokker T-2Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9317 , accessed August 21, 201001:10:14:07October 14–15, 1922Le Bourget, FranceLucien Bossoutrot and Robert DrouhinFarman F.60 GoliathFédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9464 , accessed August 21, 201001:02:19:35December 29–30, 1921Roosevelt Field, New York, US;New York Times, December 31, 1921, p. 7 FAI record says Jacksonville, FloridaEdward A. Stinson and Lloyd BertaudJunkers-Larsen JL-6 First record recognized by FAIFédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9455 , accessed August 21, 201001:00:19:07June 3–4, 1920Ville Sauvage la Dordogne, FranceLucien Bossoutrot and Jean BernardFarman F.60 GoliathU.S. Air Services, August 1920, p. 3601:00:12:00July 10–11, 1914Johannisthal Air Field near Berlin, GermanyReinhold BöhmAlbatros biplaneSkytamer, accessed August 21, 2010New York Times, July 13, 1914, p. 300:21:49:00June 28–29, 1914Johannisthal Air Field near Berlin, GermanyWerner LandmannAlbatros biplaneCanada Aviation and Space Museum , p. 54, accessed August 21, 201000:13:22:00September 11, 1912Étampes airfield in FranceAlexandre Fourny (Fourney)Maurice Farman MF-2History of Aeronautics , accessed August 21, 2010New International Year Book for 1912, p. 400:11:01:29September 1, 1911Buc, FranceAlexandre Fourny (Fourney)Maurice Farman biplaneJackmon, W.J., Flying Machines: Construction and Operation, 1912, p. 244, accessed August 21, 2010Jeunes Ailes, accessed August 21, 201000:08:12:45December 18, 1910Étampes airfield in FranceHenri FarmanMaurice Farman biplaneAircraft, February 1911, p. 43000:06:01:00October 28, 1910Buc, FranceMaurice TabuteauMaurice Farman MF-2The Independent, February 16, 1911, p. 34700:05:03:05July 10, 1910Reims, FranceJan OlieslagersBlériot monoplaneJournal of the United States Artillery, July–August 1910, p. 10600:04:17:35November 3, 1909Mourmelon-le-Grand, FranceHenri FarmanH. FarmanNew York Times, January 1, 1910, p. 400:02:18:33.6December 31, 1908Camp d’Auvours near Le Mans, FranceWilbur WrightWright Model ACentennial of Flight Commission, 1908 Flight Log for Camp d'Auvours, Le Mans, France00:01:54:00.4December 18, 1908Camp d’Auvours near Le Mans, FranceWilbur WrightWright Model A00:01:31:25.8September 21, 1908Camp d’Auvours near Le Mans, FranceWilbur WrightWright Model A00:01:14:20September 12, 1908Fort Myer, Virginia, USOrville WrightWright Model ACentennial of Flight Commission, 1908 Flight Log for Ft. Myer, Va.00:01:10:24September 11, 1908Fort Myer, Virginia, USOrville WrightWright Model A00:01:05:52September 10, 1908Fort Myer, VirginiaOrville WrightWright Model A00:01:02:15September 9, 1908Fort Myer, Virginia, USOrville WrightWright Model A00:00:59:23.8October 5, 1905Huffman Prairie, Ohio, USWilbur WrightWright Flyer IIICentennial of Flight Commission, 1905 Flight Log for Huffman Prairie, Simms Station, Dayton, Ohio00:00:33:17October 4, 1905Huffman Prairie, Ohio, USOrville WrightWright Flyer III00:00:26:11.2October 3, 1905Huffman Prairie, Ohio, USOrville WrightWright Flyer III00:00:19:56September 29, 1905Huffman Prairie, Ohio, USOrville WrightWright Flyer III00:00:18:11September 26, 1905Huffman Prairie, Ohio, USWilbur WrightWright Flyer III00:00:05:41September 12, 1905Huffman Prairie, Ohio, YSWilbur WrightWright Flyer III00:00:05:04November 9, 1904Huffman Prairie, Ohio, USWilbur WrightWright Flyer IICentennial of Flight Commission, 1904 Flight Log for Huffman Prairie, Simms Station, Dayton, Ohio00:00:01:38October 14, 1904Huffman Prairie, Ohio, USOrville WrightWright Flyer II00:00:01:35September 20, 1904Huffman Prairie, Ohio, USWilbur WrightWright Flyer II00:00:00:59December 17, 1903Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USWilbur WrightWright FlyerCentennial of Flight Commission, 1903 Flight Log for Kitty Hawk, N.C.00:00:00:12December 17, 1903Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USOrville WrightWright FlyerFirst flight

Refueled, crewed

Duration Date Location Pilots Aircraft Comments Reference64:22:19:05December 4, 1958, to February 7, 1959Las Vegas, NevadaRobert Timm and John CookCessna 172HaciendaRefueled from moving truck on groundAOPA Pilot, March 200850:00:18:20August 2, 1958, to September 21, 1958Dallas, Texas, USJim Heth and Bill BurkhartCessna 172The Old ScotchmanRefueled from moving truck on ground, May 201746:20:00:00August 24 to October 10, 1949Yuma, Arizona, USBob Woodhouse and Woody JongewardAeronca 15AC SedanCity of YumaAttempted to persuade government officials to reopen Yuma Army Air FieldCity of Yuma , 50th anniversary website with historical documents and pictures42:00:02:00March 15 to April 26, 1949Fullerton, California, USDick Riedel and Bill BarrisAeronca 15AC SedanSunkist LadyCity of Fullerton Airport , accessed August 21, 201030:06:00:00October 1–30, 1939Long Beach, California, USWes Carroll and Clyde SchlieperPiper J-3 Cub floatplaneSpirit of KayChicago Daily Tribune, October 30, 1939, September 15, 201222:07:45:00October 1- 23, 1939Muncie, Indiana, USRobert McDaniels and Kelvin BaxterPiper Franklin 50 Cub Miss Sun TanJim Fidler provided on-air coverage of flight through WLBC broadcasts. Pilots met Eleanor Roosevelt following flight. 27:05:34:00June 4 to July 1, 1935Meridian, Mississippi, USBrothers Al and Fred KeyCurtiss RobinOle MissInvented a spill-free mid-air refueling nozzle. Inaccessible recording altimeter verified duration.Sports Illustrated, November 6, 197223:01:41:30June 11 and July 4, 1930Chicago, Illinois, USBrothers John and Kenneth HunterStinson SM-1 DetroiterThe City of ChicagoFédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9559 , accessed August 21, 201017:12:17:00July 13–30, 1929St. Louis, Missouri, USDale Jackson and Forest O'BrineCurtiss RobinSt. LouisFédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9570 , accessed August 21, 201010:06:43:32July 2–12, 1929Culver City, California, USLoren W. Mendell and Roland B. ReinhartBuhl CA-5A AirsedanAngelenoTime, July 22, 1929Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9571 , accessed August 21, 201007:06:00:00June 30 to July 6, 1929Cleveland, Ohio, USRoy Mitchell and Byron K. NewcombStinson SM-1 DetroiterThe City of ClevelandNot recognized as an official record by FAI because it did not exceed previous record by at least 1%.Dailey, Franklin. The Triumph of Instrument Flight07:04:31:01May 19–26, 1929Ft. Worth, Texas, USReginald Robbins and James KellyFort WorthFédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 9572 , accessed August 21, 201006:15:40:00January 1–7, 1929Van Nuys Airport, California, USMaj. Carl Spaatz, Capt. Ira Eaker, 1st Lt. Harry A. Halverson, 2nd Lt. Elwood Quesada, and Sgt. Roy W. HooeAtlantic-Fokker C2AQuestion MarkFédération Aéronautique Internationale, , accessed August 21, 201002:12:01:30June 2–4, 1928Tirlemont, BelgiumLouis Crooy and Sgt. Victor Groenende Havilland DH-9Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, , accessed August 21, 201001:13:15:14August 27–28, 1923Rockwell Field, California, USCapt. Lowell Smith and 1st Lt. John Paul Richterde Havilland DH-4BFirst refueled flight to surpass the non-refueled recordFédération Aéronautique Internationale, Record 14808 , accessed August 21, 2010

Airline, scheduled

Duration (hh:mm:ss) Date Location Pilots Aircraft Comments Reference32:09:00June 29, 1943 – July 18, 1945Swan River, Nedlands, Western Australia to Lake Koggala, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)several Qantas crewsQantas Consolidated PBY CatalinaCalled "The Double Sunrise" (3513 mi.) 271 crossingsQantas Airways accessed July 4, 201223:19:00October 1–2, 1957London to San Francisco44 persons (12 crew, 32 passengers). Capt. Gordon Granger and co-pilot Herbert OttewillTWA Lockheed Constellation L-1649A, F/N 307 / N7307C (c.5350 mi.) Longer Range, New Routes. Retrieved July 26, 2020.19:36:00October 21–22, 1936San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, HawaiiCapt. Edwin Musick, FO Harold Gray, JO M.C. Weber, NAV Fred Noonan + 4 additional flightcrew.Pan Am Martin M-130 Flying Boat(c. 2405 mi.)

Airplane, uncrewed