Tag: 1938

On This Day 78 Years Ago – Around the world in 91 hours!

On: By: Philip Wake
On 10th July 1938 Howard Hughes began his flight around the world and arrived 91 hours later to break the previous record by more than four days! Howard Robard Hughes Jr (1905 - 1976) was an American business magnate, entrepreneur, investor, aviator, aerospace engineer, inventor, film producer and philanthropist. He was known as one of the most financially successful men in the world and gained prominence as an unorthodox film tycoon in Hollywood from the late 1920s. He made big-budget Read more [...]

On This Day 78 Years Ago – World speed record for steam set at 125 mph!

On: By: Philip Wake
On 3rd July 1938 the world speed record for a steam locomotive was set in the UK by the A4 Class Mallard at 125.88 mph (202.58 kph). The streamlined A4 class was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley to power high-speed trains. Its high power in combination with its aerodynamic body allowed the class to easily reach speeds of over 100 mph (160 kph) although in everyday service it rarely went that fast. No regular steam-hauled rail service in the UK reached even 90 mph let alone 100 mph. The Mallard covered Read more [...]