Solo Flights around the World

THE PILOT

Names : Geraldine Mock
Nationality : American
Licences: Private with Instrument Rating
Flying experience at time of flight : 750 hours

THE AEROPLANE

Name : Spirit of Colombus .dubbed "Charlie"
Registration : N 1538C
Made : Cessna
Type : C 180 (1953)
Engine : Continental 0-470-J
Length : 26 ft, 2 in. (7.98 m.)
Wing span : 36 in. (10.97 m.)
Height : 7ft. 9 in. ( 2.36 m.)
Maximum weight :2,550 Ib (1,160 kg.)
Maximum fuel capacity : 178 gallons
Cruising speed : 145 knots (268 km/h)
The Cessna Company gave Jerrie Mock another Cessna (a C P206) in exchange for N1538C. It was exhibited at the factory in Wichita until 1975 when it went to the National Air and Space Museum where it was displayed until recently. It is now in Maryland (with Post 'sWinnie Mae) at one of the repair facility and can only be seen on apointment.

THE FLIGHT

Departure point : Colombus (Ohio)
Departure date : March 19, 1964
Arrival point : Colombus
Arrival date : April 17, 1964
Duration in days : 25 days 11 hours 59 minutes
Duration in hours : Approx. 158 hours
Average speed : 120 knots (225 km/h)
En route stops : Kindley AFB (Bermuda), Santa Maria (Azores), Casablanca (Morroco), Tangier, Bone (Algeria), Tripoli (Lybia), Cairo (Egypt), Dharan (Saudi Arabia), Karachi (Pakistan), Delhi (India), Bangkok (Thailand), Manila (Philippines), Guam Island, Wake Island, Honolulu (Hawaii), Oakland (California), Tucson, El Paso, Bowling Green (Kentucky), Colombus.
Equator : Did not cross the Equator.
Incidents/accidents : No major breakdown. Problems with the brakes, the HF antenna reel, the tail wheel

Records set :

Around the world in Class C1-c for women.
Around the world for men and women

Firsts (Non-official records) :

First woman to fly the North Atlantic from the US to Africa
First woman to fly both oceans
First woman to fly the Pacific from West to east
First woman to fly the Pacific in both directions
First woman to fly solo around the world

Other records set by Jerrie Mock :

1965: Speed on close circuit of 500 km in Class C1-c.
1966: Distance in straight line, feminine record.
1968: Distance in a close circuit, feminine record.
1968: Speed on a recognised course : (Colombus (Ohio) to San Juan (Porto Rico), Class C1-d and feminine record.
San Juan to Colombus, Class C1-d and feminine record.
1969: Speed on a recognised course : Oakland (California to Honolulu) Class C1-d and feminine record.
Oackland to Rabaul (New Guiney) feminine record.
Honolulu to Tarawa (Kiribati) Class C1-d and feminine record.
Tarawa to Honiara (Guadalcanal) Class C1-d and feminine record.
Honiara to Rabaul, Class C1-d and feminine record.

Sponsors : The flight was sponsored by many aircraft parts manufactuers and services providers, especially Cessna and Continental (engine), Champion spark plugs, etc..

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES

Books

Mock Geraldine, Three Eight Charlie ,1970, J.B. Lippincott Company, New York, 75-118975
The flight as told by the pilot. Maps. Photos.

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

Magazines

Vail, Betty and Edwards Dixon, Winner takes all, Flying, July 1964. A very comprehensive article following Mock's log of the flight. Photos.
Fisher Herb, Flying, August 1964. a short article part of a Champion Spark Plug Company advertisement. Photos.

Other sources :
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Archives in Lausanne, Switzerland