Local pilot sets world aviation speed record

Local resident and pilot, Mark DiLullo recently set a world aviation speed record.

On March 25, DiLullo and his flight crew set the world speed record over a recognized course from Agana, Guam to Cleveland, Ohio. The flight averaged a ground speed of 515.5 mph (Mach .80) over 7,633 miles and a duration of 14:47:56 in a Gulfstream G450.

The G450 has a normal maximum range of approximately 4,000 nm.

“The G450 is a state-of-the-art aircraft and performed with superiority; it’s a clear testament to the dominance continuously displayed by the Gulfstream IV platform for over 35 years,” said DiLullo. “The aircraft performed flawlessly, and we were able to achieve an average ground speed of 80 percent the speed of sound.”

The aircraft was required to make a fuel stop, but the advance planning and crew coordination allowed swift refueling which kept the aircraft on the ground for minimal time.

“It was very fulfilling to achieve the record,” said Mark DiLullo. “This record could not have been set by a single individual alone – it was best-in-class coordination by our crew, the professional ground crews, and the whole team at Threshold that made it happen. We can all be proud of that.”

This is DiLullo’s first sanctioned world record.

The National Aeronautic Association sanctions and qualifies aviation world records and is the official US representative to the Federation Aeronautic International (FAI) for qualifying and recording world aviation records.

DiLullo is the Founder and CEO of Threshold Aviation Group, based at Chino Airport (KCNO). Visit flytti.com for more information.