publication date: Thursday, January 7, 2021 (part of Winter 2021)

category: Aviation

clue: Ninety years ago, he crossed the Tasman Sea and proved that even a crash landing is still enough to qualify a flight for the record books.

explanation: On January 7, 1931, Menzies became the first person to fly solo across the Tasman Sea, but he crash-landed upside down on the New Zealand coast. more…

intended difficulty: medium

solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Denise Sawicki, and Erik Bates


Similar Goos

Bessie Coleman

High in the sky above France, she make history by living and dying at the controls of a plane. Go »

Howard Hughes

This high-flying businessman and director once soared the skies, but eventually wouldn't leave his apartment. Go »

Steve Fossett

One record this air head probably won't set is the most correct guesses in a week. Go »

Chuck Yeager

If you asked this WWII fighter pilot his name at the event that made him most famous, you wouldn't hear his answer. Go »

Robert F. Six

F4r h1s v4c4t10n, th1s h0n3ym00n3r pr0b4bly c4ught 4 tr4ns-c0nt1n3nt4l fl1ght. Go »

Manfred von Richthofen

dog nemesis and pizza mascot Go »