Comments on: Project Sunrise

By: Mitch

Mitch — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:40:16 +0000

John Graham – Boeing sold only 45 747SPs. It was the longest-range 747 when it entered service in 1976, but its range was soon superseded by 747-200Bs with uprated engines from P&WA, GE and RR and max takeoff weight increased from 800,000 to 833,000 lbs.
The 747-400 entered service in 1989. It had even more range at 875,000 lbs MTOW; all the passenger -400s at that weight had tail fuel.
The six Qantas 747-400ERs had 910,000 MTOW but no additional fuel. The extra MTOW gave a bit more range at full payload.
(All the other 910,000 lb MTOW 747-400s were freighters with the peculiar designation 747-400ERF)

By: Mitch

Mitch — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:27:57 +0000

(continued with some overlap)
(Again from Wikipedia)
• “October 2, 1957: Trans World Airlines’ L-1649A, set the record for the longest-duration, non-stop passenger flight aboard a piston-powered airliner on the inaugural London–Heathrow to San Francisco Flight 801 where the aircraft, having encountered strong headwinds, stayed aloft for 23 hours and 19 minutes covering 8,638 kilometers (5,367 mi; 4,664 nmi).”
This airplane cruised at 325 mph between 20,000 and 25,000 ft. Unceasing engine vibration and noise. No movies; no music. Play cards, read a book or an airline-provided magazine, talk to your seatmate, try to sleep. Eat and drink to excess. Lots of smoking.
The aft cabin had reclining sleeper seats. There was a mid-cabin lounge; the mid and forward cabin seats were 2+2, 40-inch pitch with ample recline.
So much for the “golden age” of air travel.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:18:39 +0000

Patrick, for a comprehensive summary of the longest flights go to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_flights
The longest-duration peacetime scheduled flights were 1956-1960 during the very brief reign of the longest-range piston-engine airliners: the Douglas DC-7C Seven Seas and the Lockheed 1649 Starliner.
TWA dubbed their 1649s “Jetstreams” but they were not jets. They inaugurated the first non-stops from the West Coast to London and Paris.
From Wikipedia
• “September 29, 1957: A Trans World Airlines Lockheed L-1649A Starliner, the ultimate piston-engine airliner in terms of range and endurance, flew the inaugural 8,780 kilometers (5,456 mi; 4,7
• 41 nmi) Los Angeles to London–Heathrow polar route in 18 hours and 32 minutes.
• October 3, 1957: Trans World Airlines broke their own longest flight record, again using the L-1649A, with the launch of TW850’s non-stop flight from San Francisco to Paris–Orly covering 9,001 kilometers (5,593 mi; 4,860 nmi) in a scheduled flight time of 19 hours, 45 minutes.”
Those flights were eastbound, assisted by prevailing tailwinds.
Westbound against prevailing headwinds took longer. (Again from Wikipedia)
• “October 2, 1957: Trans World Airlines’ L-1649A, set the record for the longest-duration, non-stop passenger flight aboard a piston-powered airliner on the inaugural London–Heathrow to San Francisco Flight 801 where the aircraft, having encountered strong headwinds, stayed aloft for 23 hours and 19 minutes covering 8,638 km

By: Mike Menzie

Mike Menzie — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:40:53 +0000

I would think fuel capacity and the weight of said fuel would be the limiting factors in ulta long flights, assuming the crew and passengers can endure it.

By: John Graham

John Graham — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:06:59 +0000

South African Airways flew the SP around the ‘bulge of Africa’. If the winds were against the aircraft they would ‘top up’ by a technical stop in Lisbon. I think the Qantas -400ER which was very specific to Qantas and had the extra fuel in the tail stabiliser had more endurance than the SP. Qantas branded the aircraft “Longreach” and I think were in service until recently. Perhaps readers with actual experience could comment – I was only a passenger!

By: Raoul M

Raoul M — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 22:05:53 +0000

Having done LAX and SFO to SYD, MEL and AKL (and reverse) more times than I care to remember – at least 25 round trips, possibly 40+ – in both business and economy. I don’t think that I personally could stand more than 15 hours – even with lie flat beds.

I’m very happy I’m no longer doing that commute and I don’t think I’d take the direct even it were available. And I say that as someone who thinks that LAX is one of the worst airports in the world

By: Gimlet Winglet

Gimlet Winglet — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 01:15:35 +0000

In the news today, an airbus A350-1000ULR just completed a non-stop test flight from Melbourne to Toulouse, where it was built. Took 24.5 hours, passed through two sunrises and two sunsets. The plan is not that particular route, but rather east coast australia to NYC and London non-stop.

By: Paul Fisher

Paul Fisher — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:58:10 +0000

The name Project Sunrise relates to the Double Sunrise flights between Perth and Colombo during WWII. It was flown by Catalinas and took in excess of 24 hours.

Qantas now flies Perth – London non-stop in 787s as well as Perth – Paris and Perth – Rome. Personally I like to break the trip at Dubai or Doha.

By: Matt D

Matt D — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 19:51:45 +0000

Two questions.

One, which 747 had the longest range, the -400 or -SP? And I know that there are variables like winds aloft, time of year, time of day, and so on. But….just as a rule.

And the other. I seem to remember reading many years ago that United once scheduled the -400 between ORD and HKG. And that fuel and range margin was so tight that the plane was actually towed all the way to the runway before the engines were started.

Is that or could that be true or was there maybe some liberties taken with the truth? I wish I can remember when and where I heard that.

By: Tod

Tod — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:57:36 +0000

I think the ‘project sunrise’ name is a homage to the old double sunrise flights before the jet age