What is the Century Mission?

Around the World Westbound - Unofficial Speed Record

April 4, 2024 - April 6, 2024



Air ambulance operator Global Jet Care, based in Brooksville, Florida completed an unofficial record setting around the world flight in one of its Learjets as a fundraiser for the Classic Lear Jet Foundation.  The Foundation is raising funds for the restoration to flying condition of the first Learjet to ever be delivered, the 23-003, where it was built in Wichita, KS in 1964.   

The Century Mission circumnavigated the globe (flew around the world) in as short a time as possible, timed with the 100th anniversary of the first ever around the world flight on April 6, 1924, which was called The World Flight.  More information on that flight can be found lower on this page.  Another notable factor is that the Century Mission traveled westbound, which was more difficult because they flew into a headwind instead of having a tailwind.  All previous record-setting flights have flown eastbound.  Since there isn't a record for this route, it will serve as a challenge to other airplanes of the same category to try to break the record once it has been declared “official”. 

The flight took off from Wichita just before midnight on April 3, 2024 and flew west with a total of 11 stops in California, Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Singapore, India, Dubai, Egypt, Italy, Portugal and Canada before returning to Wichita on April 6, 2024.  The total flight time for the crew of 5 was 67 hours and 28 minutes for the Century Mission in comparison to the World Flight in 1924 which took 175 days and 74 stops to complete.  Continue to check back here or on social media once the final “official” determination of the record is confirmed.