Solo Flights around the World

THE PILOT
Names : Maximilien Conrad
Date of Birth : 21 January, 1903
Place of Birth : Winona, Minnesota, USA
Nationality : American
Licences: Commercial
Past : Suffered motor and mental troubles after a skull fracture.

THE AEROPLANE
Max Conrad, used several aircraft, all made by Piper., starting by the Pacer of the Atlantic flight, then a Comanche, a Twin Comanche and several Aztec.

The aircraft of the round the world flight:
Name : New Frontiers.
Registration : N4445P
Made : Piper
Type : Atzec
Length :9.52 m.
Wing span :11.34 m.

THE FLIGHT
Departure point : Miami (Florida)
Departure date : 27 February, 1961
Arrival point : Miami
Arrival date : 8 March, 1961
Duration in days : 10 days
Duration in hours : Average speed : 123.19 mph, 198.27 km/h..
En route stops : Long Beach (California), Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam Island, Manilla (Philippines), Singapore, Bombay (India), Nairobi (Kenya), Lagos (Nigeria), Dakar, Amapa (Brazil), Atkinson Field (British Guyana), Poet of Spain (Trinitad), Miami.
Equator : Two crossings.
Incidents/accidents : No major breakdown. An incident when the ADF lost its audio on the speaker. Conrad turn the fuel "OFF" while changing tanks.

Records set :
Around the world, westbound 198.27 km/h in Class C1-D (Pistons aircraft less than 3000 kg, 6614 lbs). This record has not be beaten.

Firsts: First civilian aircraft to land at the South Pole.

Other records set by Max Conrad :

2-4/6/1959 Class C1-D Commanche PA-24 (Lycoming 250 HP) N110LF
Distance : from Casablanca to Los Angeles.
12 341.2 km = 4 668.48 miles
Duration : 58 hours

24/11/59 Class C1-C Comanche PA-24-180 (Lycoming 180 hp) N110LF
Distance : from Casablanca to El Paso Texas
11,211.83 km = 6 966.75 miles
Duratio : 56 hours
This record is still standing.

14/7/60 Class C1-D Comanche PA-24-180 (Lycoming 180) N110LF
Distance in close circuit : Mineapolis, Chicago, Des Moines, Chicago.
11,138.72 km = 6 921.28 miles Duration : 60 hours
This record is still standing.

24-26/12/1964 Class C1-E Twin Comanche PA-30 ( 2 X Lycoming 180 hp) N7003Y
Distance : from Cape Town to St Petersburg (California)
12 678.83 km = 7 878.18 miles Duration : 3 days and 2 nights

6-7/9/1968 Class C1-E PA-23 Atzec ( 2 x Lycoming 250 hp )
N123LF Saint Louis Woman
Close circuit St Louis (Missouri)
8 549.2 km = 5 312.2 miles

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES

Books
Sally Buegeleisen, Into the Wind, The Story of Max Conrad, 1973, Random House, New York, ISBN 0-394-46306-4.
The only book on Conrad. Lacks precision in the chronology of events. Photos. No map.

Most of these books, including out of print books, are available from Barnes & Noble :

Magazines
Scherer, William, Max Conrad, Record setting Pilot is gone but not forgotten, AOPA Pilot, November 1999.
Short article, commenting on Buegeleisen's book: Into the Wind. Photos and map

Other sources
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Archives in Lausanne, Switzerland

A Site dedicated to Max Conrad and his accomplishments