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That's amazing. I get in-air refueling, but the fact that the two pilots managed to live in this tiny space, performing tasks that I'm sure very quickly became

That's amazing. I get in-air refueling, but the fact that the two pilots managed to live in this tiny space, performing tasks that I'm sure very quickly became repetitive and monotonous, listening to the engine, peeing in a bottle, etc. for two months is truly outrageous.

matkoniecz 4y ago
> When asked by a reporter if he would ever replicate the stunt, Cook replied: “Next time I feel in the mood to fly endurance, I’m going to lock myself in a garbage can with the vacuum cleaner running, and have Bob serve me T-bone steaks chopped up in a thermos bottle. That is, until my psychiatrist opens for business in the morning.” https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2008/march/pilot/endurance-test-circa-1958 https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2008/march/pilo...
- shagie 4y ago
  The part that made me chuckle outlaid was about hygiene... > The danger of in-flight bathing > In his diary, John Cook wrote, “We got a quart of bath water, a large towel and soap every other day.” > On January 12, 1959, after refueling chores, Timm removed his clothes and stepped out onto the platform for a refreshing sponge bath. He started by brushing his teeth. Just then Cook realized that the airplane wasn’t going to clear an upcoming ridge if the platform wasn’t pulled in. Cook yelled at Timm to pull in the platform and later told of seeing his partner struggling to complete that task—buck naked, and weighing 240 pounds, with a toothbrush sticking out of one side of his mouth and toothpaste streaming out of the other. They cleared the ridge but learned to delay hygienic activities until they were over flatter terrain.
kqr 4y ago
Not only that, but they had already tried a few times before, at least one 17 days long! > After the first three flights, the plane had never stayed aloft longer than 17 days. Imagine going up there a third time, spending a day, then two, then a week, then two weeks, and then a few days later being forced to land... only to get up there again aiming for two months!
- BHSPitMonkey 4y ago
  Seems like good practice for interplanetary travel.

matkoniecz 4y ago

> When asked by a reporter if he would ever replicate the stunt, Cook replied: “Next time I feel in the mood to fly endurance, I’m going to lock myself in a garbage can with the vacuum cleaner running, and have Bob serve me T-bone steaks chopped up in a thermos bottle. That is, until my psychiatrist opens for business in the morning.” https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2008/march/pilot/endurance-test-circa-1958 https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2008/march/pilo...

shagie 4y ago
The part that made me chuckle outlaid was about hygiene... > The danger of in-flight bathing > In his diary, John Cook wrote, “We got a quart of bath water, a large towel and soap every other day.” > On January 12, 1959, after refueling chores, Timm removed his clothes and stepped out onto the platform for a refreshing sponge bath. He started by brushing his teeth. Just then Cook realized that the airplane wasn’t going to clear an upcoming ridge if the platform wasn’t pulled in. Cook yelled at Timm to pull in the platform and later told of seeing his partner struggling to complete that task—buck naked, and weighing 240 pounds, with a toothbrush sticking out of one side of his mouth and toothpaste streaming out of the other. They cleared the ridge but learned to delay hygienic activities until they were over flatter terrain.

kqr 4y ago

Not only that, but they had already tried a few times before, at least one 17 days long! > After the first three flights, the plane had never stayed aloft longer than 17 days. Imagine going up there a third time, spending a day, then two, then a week, then two weeks, and then a few days later being forced to land... only to get up there again aiming for two months!

BHSPitMonkey 4y ago
Seems like good practice for interplanetary travel.