Max Conrad Aviator, record holder Date of Birth: 21.01.1903 Country: USA

Biography of Max Conrad

Max Conrad, a record-breaking aviator, was most active in aviation in the 1950s and 1960s. Some may argue that modern airplanes have surpassed the models of his time, but Conrad's records still remain unbeaten to this day. Born in Winona, Minnesota, Conrad graduated from high school in 1921 and soon pursued a career in aviation. He eventually became the head of the Conrad Flying Service company.

In 1929, Conrad suffered a serious head injury when a woman accidentally ran into the spinning propeller of one of his planes. Despite his efforts to stop her, he was unable to prevent the accident. Conrad spent several months recovering from his injuries.

Among Conrad's many students was Arthur 'Art' Donahue, one of the most famous American aces who fought in the British Royal Air Force during World War II. Donahue, after completing Conrad's courses, became an instructor at his school. Later, Donahue joined the Battle of Britain and became one of the seven Americans who participated in the battle. Sadly, Donahue lost his life in a battle over the English Channel.

In June 1959, Conrad achieved a non-stop flight from Casablanca to Los Angeles, covering a distance of 12,340 kilometers. This record remained unbroken until 1987. On November 24, 1959, Conrad set another record that still stands to this day. His aircraft in the weight category of 1000-1750 kg successfully flew from Casablanca to El Paso, Texas, in 56 hours.

In February 1961, Conrad embarked on a circumnavigation trip, flying westward and completing a journey longer than the circumference of the Earth along the equator. His average speed during the trip was 198.26 km/h. Conrad made stops in California and Honolulu, Manila and Singapore, Dakar and Brazil. He crossed the equator twice during the journey.

In 1966, Conrad participated in a high-profile attempt to conquer Antarctica's highest mountain, Vinson Massif. The National Geographic Society, American Alpine Club, US Navy, and National Science Foundation Office of Antarctic Programs sponsored the team of climbers. Around the same time, an unofficial expedition led by Woodrow Wilson Sayre also attempted to reach the summit. Conrad was supposed to transport Sayre for a significant part of the journey by air. Unfortunately, the attempt failed, partly due to aircraft problems. By the time the first four members of the official expedition reached the summit, Sayre and Conrad had not yet departed from Buenos Aires.

On August 8, 1965, Max Conrad was awarded the annual Harmon International Aviation Trophy for his impressive achievements in aviation. He was married to his wife Betty and had 10 children and 37 grandchildren.