P2V-1 Neptune

With the advent of nuclear weapons, the Navy evaluated the abilities of its newest aircraft and their crews to perform long-range missions.  Nicknamed the “Truculent Turtle” in the tradition of the old fable The Tortoise and the Hare, the P2V-1 Neptune on display was slow but steady in establishing a world record for long-distance unrefueled flight.  Packed with as much fuel as it could carry, the airplane completed a flight from Perth, Australia, to Columbus, Ohio, on October 1, 1946, after traveling a distance of 11,235 miles in 55 hours and 17 minutes.  The record stood until 1962. Read More