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As popular today as when introduced in 1956, Cessna¹s single-engine 182 Skylane is as common in the air as the Ford Taurus or Honda Accord family sedans are on the highway. Very dependable, with room for four, but nothing fancy. Most pilots have flown a 182 or a similar Cessna; at any airport you will see several of these planes with their distinctive tricycle landing gear and high-mounted wings.
This particular Cessna was acquired by former TRW executive Jim Dunlap. Prior to his retirement, he learned to fly, and when he was 74, he decided to embark on the ultimate aerial adventure and fly solo around the world. Dunlap relied upon local aircraft technician and restorer Don Helmick to prepare and modify his 1972-vintage 182 aircraft for the journey. Helmick also worked for TRW as head of maintenance for the corporation's business aircraft.
To extend the range of the Cessna for ocean crossings, a pair of large tanks replaced the rear and passenger seats increasing the plane's 79 gallon fuel capacity to 233 gallons. Prior to his global attempt, Dunlap practiced with transcontinental trips across the US, and then a flight to Australia and New Zealand in another Cessna. Although delayed by a heart attack in 1988, Dunlap could not be kept from his goal. He set out alone on a six-week journey around the world on July 5, 1990.
When his heavily laden Cessna winged skyward from Cuyahoga County Airport, there was little room for the intrepid Dunlap. Dunlap averaged 140 mph in the air during the course of the trip, and he always managed to find time to play golf and visit exotic locales such as the Minoan ruins on the island of Crete, the pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal of India. He experienced only minor mechanical difficulties, and the only major deviation from his route occurred when he was denied permission to land at Beijing, China. Forty-four days and 25,386 miles later, Dunlap touched down at Cuyahoga County Airport, completing his flight and becoming one of the oldest pilots to fly solo around the world.
In 2002, Jim Dunlap donated his Around-the-World Cessna to the Crawford Museum.
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