Wiley Post and the First Solo Flight Around the World: A Triumph of Skill and Daring

On the morning of July 15th, 1933, under the soft summer sky at Floyd Bennett Field in Long Island, New York, a streamlined crimson and gold Lockheed Vega sat poised for history. Its pilot, Wiley Post, was already a legend—one-eyed, relentlessly innovative, driven by an unshakable faith in the future of aviation. As his airplane’s engine rumbled to life, few could grasp the audacity of his intent: circumnavigate the globe entirely alone, challenging the limits of both man and machine.

Wiley Post: The Relentless Aviator

Wiley Post was no stranger to headlines. Born in Texas and raised in Oklahoma, Post was an oil-field roughneck before he ever climbed into a cockpit. After losing an eye in a drilling accident—a tragedy for most, but a turning point for Post—he saw opportunity, not defeat. He earned his wings and quickly gained attention for his daring aerial feats, most famously as the pilot for oilman F.C. Hall and then as a racing champion.

A year earlier, in 1931, Post and navigator Harold Gatty had flown around the world in a then record-setting 8 days, 15 hours. But Post was not satisfied. Could he do it alone, depending only on his own skills, with no one in the copilot’s seat for reassurance or rest? The world doubted, but Post believed.

The Spirit of the Lockheed Vega

The aircraft that would carry Post into immortality was Lockheed Model 5C Vega, sprightly and tough, painted with the distinctive registration “NR105W.” Nicknamed the “Winnie Mae” after his sponsor’s daughter, the Vega had a wood monocoque fuselage and was considered state-of-the-art for its time, fast and remarkably reliable.

To prepare for the solo globe-spanning journey, Post equipped the Winnie Mae with the most advanced technology available—gyroscopic autopilot, radio direction-finder, special navigational instruments, and long-range fuel tanks—transforming her into a marvel of 1930s aviation science.

The Journey Begins: Into the Unknown

At 4:11 a.m. on July 15, 1933, Post roared eastward into the dawn, waving farewell to the crowded tarmac behind him. Ahead lay a hazardous 15,596-mile odyssey across the Arctic wilds, the tundra of Soviet Russia, and the length and breadth of two continents. His route would take him over the Atlantic to Berlin, then onward to Moscow, Siberia, Alaska, and finally back across the North American continent.

Unlike his earlier world flight with Gatty, Post now faced utter solitude. All navigation, radio operation, and mechanical fixes would be up to him alone.

11 Stops, Endless Obstacles

Post’s route included scheduled landings at Berlin, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Blagoveshchensk, Khabarovsk, Fairbanks, Edmonton, and Cleveland, among others. At every stop, crowds pressed close, eager for news, fueled by the newspaper wire services that chronicled his every move.

Navigational challenges, unpredictable weather, and the fatigue of sleepless hours constantly threatened Post’s mission. Over Siberia, he encountered driving rains, blinding fog, and mountains obscured by clouds. In Alaska, he flew through stormy skies, battling exhaustion and struggling to maintain focus. In Moscow, delays in fueling and bureaucracy hampered his tight schedule.

Yet every time, the Winnie Mae and her intrepid pilot pressed on.

Hero’s Return: The World Watches

Finally, on July 22, 1933, after 7 days, 18 hours, and 49 minutes aloft, Wiley Post’s plane came into view above Floyd Bennett Field. Crowds surged forward in anticipation as local and international press jostled for space along the runway.

When the wheels of the Winnie Mae touched back on American soil at 11:58 am, an incredulous world erupted in celebration. Presidents, kings, and ordinary citizens alike cheered as Post emerged, weary but triumphant, having completed the first solo flight around the world.

A Legacy of Innovation and Courage

Wiley Post’s feat wasn’t just one for the record books—it ushered in a new era of aviation. Demonstrating the possibilities of long-distance solo navigation and the promise of new technologies like autopilots and navigational radios, his flight inspired a generation of pilots and engineers. Post would go on to pioneer the first practical pressure suit and high-altitude flying before his untimely death in Alaska in 1935, cementing his place as a giant of early aviation.

Conclusion

The summer of 1933 marked a transformative moment not just for aviation, but for the human spirit’s ceaseless quest to reach beyond the possible. In those whirlwind eight days around the globe, Wiley Post showed the world the power of resilience, ingenuity, and the courage to go it alone.

Today, the story of the Winnie Mae and her solitary pilot remains a testament to the thin line between risk and greatness—a story for every generation that dares to dream of flight.