Flying the Spirit of Columbus, Jerrie Mock became the first woman to pilot an aircraft around the world. She departed from Columbus, Ohio, on March 19, 1964, and arrived back home on April 17, 1964, after flying 36,964 kilometers (23,103 miles) in 29 days, 11 hours, and 59 minutes. Mock wrote about her exceptional solo flight in Three Eight Charlie.Introduced in 1952, the Cessna 180 high-wing utility aircraft was a rugged and popular tail-wheel design which led to the tricycle gear-equipped model 182 still in production today. Russell Mock and Al Baumeister purchased a used model 180 and installed additional fuel tanks, radios, navigation and survival equipment for this flight.