The First Nonstop Transcontinental Flight

During the flight, Macready and Kelly faced flying over unknown territory at night and through storms and rain for over half the flight. Also, by the time Macready and Kelly reached the Continental Divide in Arizona, the T-2 had used up most of its fuel, making the airplane lighter and easier to control as they crossed the highest point of the flight at 10,200 feet.

With the completion of the flight, the two pilots and the T-2 demonstrated the potential of military and commercial aircraft as practical long-distance technologies.