AROUND THE WORLD SPEED RECORD On the evening of January 28, 1988, a Boeing 747SP named Friendship One took off from the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field to fly around the world faster than any airplane in history. The aircraft, donated for the flight by United Airlines, carried 141 crew and passengers to a new absolute around-the-world record of 36 hours, 54 minutes, and 15 seconds at an average speed of 623.59 mph (1003.53 km /h).The flight was sponsored by the Friendship Foundation, with fuel donated by The Boeing Company, Pratt & Whitney, and Volkswagon. Friendship One's "mission control" center was manned by children at the Museum of Flight. Passengers' contributions raised $530,000 for children's charities around the world. Our thanks to everyone who made this historic event happen. The Friendship Foundation Directors, Joe Clark Clay Lacy Bruce McCaw |