Existing comment:
Air & Space Museum; "Ole Miss"
This is the Custiss Robin J-1 Deluxe which two brothers, Algene and Frederick Key, flew in 1935. They were surviving the Depression in Meridian Mississippi, trying to provide a gimmick to get business for their flying company. That gimmick was a marathon flight to set the world's record for staying airborne.
They took off on June 4, 1935. During flight, a refueling plane would keep them supplied with gasoline, food, drink, the morning newspaper, and any other supplies they needed. The engine was constantly surfaced from the cage under it. They finally landed on July 1 after staying afloat for 52,000 miles over 653 hours. The record has never been beaten except by space craft.
They later flew as bomber pilots during World War II and died in the 1970's. The plane was donated to the Smithsonian in the 1950's. |