Dates

Event

Constructed as a 206L-1.
On 30 September 1982: H. Ross Perot, Jr. and Jay W. Coburn completed their around-the-world helicopter flight when they landed Spirit of Texas at their starting point at Dallas, Texas. They had flown the single-engine Bell 206L-1 LongRanger II, serial number 45658, civil registration N3911Z, more than 26,000 miles (41,843 kilometers) in 246.5 flight hours over 29 days, 3 hours and 8 minutes.They had begun their journey 1 September 1982. Perot and Coburn traveled across twenty-six countries. They established a Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) record for helicopter speed around the world, eastbound, having averaged 56.97 kilometers per hour (35.399 miles per hour). (Class E-1d, FAI Record File Number 1254). They also established a series of point-to-point records while enroute, with the highest speed, an average of 179.39 kilometers per hour (111.47 miles per hour), taking place on 7 September 1982, while flying Spirit of Texas from London to Marseilles

To unknown owner with c/r N3911Z.

To Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Reston, VA.
View the Location Dossier

Markings Applied: Spirit of Texas

17 October 2014

Photographer: Mike Ward