Who Has the Highest Hours?

[User546]

Who's the highest time pilot that you personally know or have heard about?

And I've always been curious, is there an official "highest" time pilot out there?

The highest time pilot I can think of that I personally know is 17,000 hours, but I know theres got to be much higher time pilots out there then that!

 

[CSY Mon]

Well, meh seems to remember a guy named Max Conrad that died in his bed of old age with something like 53000 hours.

Think he sepcialized in ferrying single engine airplanes across the Atlantic or some such things.

His story was in the aviation magazines 20 years ago or so.

I personaly knew and flew with a guy named William Keshner who had 30000+ hours back in 1978....Not sure if he is still alive....?

 

[SMOE]

I don't remember his name but a gentleman that passed away a few years back in Montgomery had somewhere over 63,000. He spent most of his time on pipeline patrol in a Maul. His logbooks are on display at Montgomery Aviation @ MGM.

 

[C210drvr]

Yes, The guy @ MGM had the most flight time ever recorded. His logbooks are still on display in the FBO at MGM.

 

[350DRIVER]

Flew 135 with a guy who was 72 years of age and he stopped logging time when he was mid-30,000 hours or so. I am not sure if he is still flying present day but I couldn't imagine how many hours he would have present day if he still logged the time.


3 5 0

 

[Swass]

There are members of this board who have a ton:


http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=16394&highlight=crusty

 

[Illini Pilot]

Well, meh seems to remember a guy named Max Conrad that died in his bed of old age with something like 53000 hours.

Think he sepcialized in ferrying single engine airplanes across the Atlantic or some such things.

His story was in the aviation magazines 20 years ago or so.

I personaly knew and flew with a guy named William Keshner who had 30000+ hours back in 1978....Not sure if he is still alive....?

If you are talking about William Kershner, he is still around. He has written a bunch of training books. I heard him give a talk on spins, and some of the stuff he talked about was just crazy

 

[transpac]

If you are talking about William Kershner, he is still around. He has written a bunch of training books. I heard him give a talk on spins, and some of the stuff he talked about was just crazy

Max Conrad was well known in general aviation circles for being the highest time pilot around. William Kershner was and is well known in general aviation circles for his training books. Mr Conrad and Mr. Kershner are not the same person.

 

[Illini Pilot]

Max Conrad was well known in general aviation circles for being the highest time pilot around. William Kershner was and is well known in general aviation circles for his training books. Mr Conrad and Mr. Kershner are not the same person.

i was referring to:

I personaly knew and flew with a guy named William Keshner who had 30000+ hours back in 1978....Not sure if he is still alive....?

i wasnt sure since it was spelled wrong...not sure if it was a typo or not

 

[CSY Mon]

wasnt sure since it was spelled wrong...not sure if it was a typo or notToday 18:59

Spelled wrong.?

Well, it is the same guy that wrote the books.
Back in 1978 he was teaching aerobatics in a C-150A and I signed up for his course.
Hell of a nice guy and a pleasure to fly with.

Not sure what is wrong with the spelling of his name, I only have have his signature to go by, and it looks like Keshner, or Keishner.
The books got lost over the years after many moves, can't verfy the spelling..

Originally Posted by CSY Mon
Well, meh seems to remember a guy named Max Conrad that died in his bed of old age with something like 53000 hours.

Think he sepcialized in ferrying single engine airplanes across the Atlantic or some such things.

His story was in the aviation magazines 20 years ago or so.

I personaly knew and flew with a guy named William Keshner who had 30000+ hours back in 1978....Not sure if he is still alive....?

Max Conrad was well known in general aviation circles for being the highest time pilot around. William Kershner was and is well known in general aviation circles for his training books. Mr Conrad and Mr. Kershner are not the same person.

Jeez, did it sounds like I was talking about the same person?
'Course not: 2 different, high time dudes.

(Maybe I had one too many today, have too look this over in the morning, either I am confusing the hell out of myself, or some of you guys are.....

 

[Flyin Tony]

Max Conrad flew the comanches alot, he flew a Comanche 180 about 7000 miles and a 250 about 7700 miles across the Atlantic

 

[westwind]

Here's a contender. Kind of a neat story. http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1545986
Found a great site on Max Conrad. Almost died after being hit in the head with a propellor, world record holder in the high jump. Crazy man.
http://www.luminet.net/~bkuhl/maxpics.htm

 

[LearLove]

I don't remember his name but a gentleman that passed away a few years back in Montgomery had somewhere over 63,000. He spent most of his time on pipeline patrol in a Maul. His logbooks are on display at Montgomery Aviation @ MGM.

If I remember correctly Flying had an excerpt on him 10+ years ago. I remember the part about pipe patrol, but I think they said mostly in a J-3. Pipe patrol would make sence as they fly alot.

 

[Illini Pilot]

Spelled wrong.?

Well, it is the same guy that wrote the books.
Back in 1978 he was teaching aerobatics in a C-150A and I signed up for his course.
Hell of a nice guy and a pleasure to fly with.

Not sure what is wrong with the spelling of his name, I only have have his signature to go by, and it looks like Keshner, or Keishner.
The books got lost over the years after many moves, can't verfy the spelling..

http://www.kershnerflightmanuals.com/

 

[curtnkari]

Wow!
63000 hours=2625 24hour days=7.19 years aloft.
Also 63000 X 100 kts =6.3 million miles.
But even if all 63000 hours were done in cruise at 500 kts that's 31.5 million miles and that would only take 2 minutes 49 seconds at the speed of light.

Just having fun with numbers - no underlying message.

Curt