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[[underlined]] Proposed Award of the Langley Medal [[/underlined]]

Mr. Ripley observed that in modern times, when jet airliners cross the globe with bewildering regularity, the full significance of circumnavigating the world in a helicopter might not be apparent. But between September 1 and September 30, 1982, H. Ross Perot, Jr., and Jay Coburn flew their Bell Longranger, "Spirit of Texas," around the world in a technical, logistic, and piloting achievement equivalent to the first flight around the world by aircraft in 1924. The flight of Perot and Coburn demonstrated to the world the utility, reliability, adaptability and safety of the modern helicopter. More than any previous helicopter flight it proved the versatile helicopter to have intercontinental capabilities.

As with the 1924 flight of the Douglas World Cruiser, first aircraft to fly around the world, the 1982 flight of the "Spirit of Texas" reflected a combination of planning, professional flight competence, and daring of the highest order. The single engine helicopter operated in every sort of flight conditions in desert, jungle and ocean environments. It flew on instruments and at night through weather that would have grounded an ordinary aircraft, and it maintained a rigidly prescribed schedule to the minute.

Like many of the early pioneer flyers, H. Ross Perot, Jr., is a young man but is a very well trained, highly professional pilot. His competence matched his imaginative planning. When the goal of the flight seemed to be in danger of frustration by the refusal of the Soviel Union to permit a refueling stop on the Kuriles, he conceived of using a container ship as a miniature mid-ocean aircraft carrier. This had never been done before,