In 1958, two Nevada pilots set out to break an aviation record and inadvertently created one that still stands unbroken. Robert Timm and John Cook flew a modified Cessna 172 “Hacienda” for 64 days, 22 hours, and 19 minutes from December 4, 195,8, to February 7, 1959, without touching ground once. Their extraordinary endurance flight covered an estimated 150,000 miles, equivalent to six trips around Earth, establishing a record that remains unbroken over 65 years later.
Hacienda Hotel sponsors ambitious publicity stunt for cancer research
The mission was sponsored by the Hacienda Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to raise money for cancer research and promote the hotel. Doc Bailey committed $100,000 to the project after slot machine mechanic Bob Timm convinced him that a record-setting flight would draw nationwide attention. To add credibility and appeal to average citizens, Bailey announced the flight as a fundraiser for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, making gambling acceptable for worthy causes.
The plane underwent extensive modifications, including a 95-gallon belly fuel tank, sink, and plumbing that allowed oil and filter changes during flight. Through-firewall plumbing enabled engine maintenance without shutting off the motor, while a small platform could be lowered from the co-pilot’s door to provide additional footing during refueling operations. The interior was removed, replacing the co-pilot seat with a four-foot foam pad for sleeping arrangements during the grueling endurance challenge ahead.
Aerial refueling operations required precision and courage
Twice daily, they refueled from a moving truck on desert highways near Blythe, California, flying just ten feet above the road while fuel hoses were passed up by cable system. This dangerous operation took over three minutes to fill the belly tank, requiring perfect coordination between pilots and ground crew. Hot meals, water, and supplies were also handed up from trucks in thermos jugs during these critical refueling sessions that kept them airborne continuously.
Desert survival tested human endurance and mechanical limits
They took four-hour shifts, battling exhaustion, turbulence, and mechanical failures, including a failed generator, a broken autopilot, and a near stall while one pilot slept. The chefs at Hacienda prepared healthy meals from fresh ingredients, chopping everything to fit into thermos containers before passing them up to the crew. Life above the desert proved torturous with constant engine noise, vibration, and sleep deprivation that pushed both men to their absolute physical and mental limits throughout the ordeal.
On January 9th, Timm dozed off and awoke an hour later, flying in a canyon, having traveled halfway to Yuma while the autopilot kept them airborne. The Mitchell wing-leveler autopilot undoubtedly saved their lives during this incident. Cook wrote in his journal about the effects of sleep loss, lack of physical activity, constant engine noise, and daily chores on both crew members, similar to how technological innovations continue advancing safety and efficiency across various industries today.
Equipment failures multiplied as the flight progressed
By day 39, the generator failed, forcing all fuel transfers to wing tanks using hand pumps, while wind-driven generator output remained limited for essential electrical systems. They lost the tachometer, autopilot, cabin heater, landing lights, fuel gauges, electrical pumps, and winch systems. Spark plugs and combustion chambers loaded with carbon, reducing engine power and making climbing with full fuel loads increasingly difficult as the continuous operation took its toll on mechanical components.
Record achievement required extraordinary determination and teamwork
On January 23, they broke the existing 50-day record but decided to continue flying as long as possible to protect their hard-earned achievement. Equipment failures mounted while both men struggled with severe sleep deprivation and physical exhaustion from living in cramped quarters. The Hacienda offered $1,000 per day for each pilot to stay aloft, providing additional financial incentive to continue their record-breaking flight despite mounting mechanical problems and personal hardships that tested their resolve daily.
By February, reduced engine power made climbing with full fuel loads nearly impossible, forcing them to cruise back and forth just above the refueling road. They had refueled 128 times total, with the engine running continuously for over 1,500 hours without shutdown. Both men had to be helped from the grimy, exhaust-streaked airplane when they finally landed, completely exhausted but having achieved something extraordinary that captured worldwide attention and established an enduring aviation milestone.
Did You Know? During early test flights, Timm witnessed a 4 AM atomic bomb blast, one of 57 above-ground nuclear tests conducted just 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas during 1958.
On February 7, 1959, the Cessna touched down safely in Las Vegas with both men exhausted but alive. Their record for “Longest Continuous Manned Flight” still stands today, ending the record-setting flight fever that had gripped aviation enthusiasts throughout the 1950s. The aircraft now hangs above baggage claim at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, serving as a permanent reminder of human determination and aviation achievement that pushed both machine and pilots to absolute limits.