A Learjet flown by a former astronaut and three other pilots apparently broke the round-the-world speed record for corporate jets when it landed early Wednesday in front of a cheering, flag-waving crowd.
The Learjet 35-A covered the roughly 23,500-mile flight in an unofficial time of 49 hours, 21 minutes and 42 seconds, a speed of 475 mph. The jet is owned by cable television magnate Bill Daniels.That would break the old mark for the Class C-1F time set by Brooke Knapp of Los Angeles in 1983 of 50 hours, 22 minutes, 42 seconds at an average speed of 458.9 mph.
The National Aeronautic Association in Alexandria, Va., will formally determine if the record was established and submit its findings to the Paris-based Federation Aeronautique Internationale for validation.
The corporate jet had taken off from Centennial Airport south of Denver at 3:07 a.m. Monday and flew past the tower at 4:28 a.m. Wednesday.