Solo Flights around the World

THE PILOT
Names : Joan Merriam Smith, nee Merriam
Nationality : USA
Licences: Comercial, 9,000 flying hours
Death : After an aircraft accident on February 17, 1965 in Wrightwood, California

THE AEROPLANE
Name : The City of Long Beach
Registration : N3251P
Made : Piper
Type : Apache
Length : 27 feet
Wing span : 37 feet

THE FLIGHT
Departure point : Long Beach, California
Departure date :17 March 1964
Arrival point : Long Beach
Arrival date :12 May 1964
Duration in days : 56
Duration in hours :170, of which 47 were on instruments
Distance : 27,750 NM
En route stops :.
Long Beach (California), Tucson (Arizona), Miami (Florida), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Paramaibo (Suriname), Belem (Brazil), Natal, Dakar (Sénégal), Gao (Mali), Fort Lamy (Tchad), El Fasher( Soudan), Khatoum, Massaua (Erythrea), Assau, Aden (Yemen), Karachi (Pakistan), Ahmadabad (India), Calcutta, Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Djakarta (Indonesia), Surabaya, Kupang (Timor), Darwin (Australia), Port Moresby ( New Guinea), Lae, Guam Islan, Wake Island,Saipan, Midway, Honolulu (Hawaii),Oackland (California), Long Beach.
Incidents/accidents :
The ferry tanks leaked and had to be repaired. The landing gear could stay in the "up" position and had to be pumped up by hand.

Firsts:.
· First solo flight along the Equator.
· First woman to fly around the world in a twin engine aircraft.
· First woman to fly solo from Africa to Australia.
· First woman to fly from Wake Island to Midway Island.
· The longest flight at the time.

Awards :
She received the prestigious Trophée de la Ligue Internationale des Aviateurs, Trophée des Aviatrices.
She received the prestigious Harmon Trophy 1964. (Click here for the list of recipients.)

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES