Did you know the longest nonstop flight ever wasn’t a jet, but a humble Cessna 172?

From December 4, 1958, to February 7, 1959, pilots Robert Timm and John Cook stayed aloft for an unbelievable 64 days, 22 hours, and 19 minutes — taking off and landing at McCarran Field in Las Vegas. Their mission pushed the limits of endurance, creativity, and teamwork, and the world record they set still stands today.

Flying low and slow over the desert, refueling from a moving truck, and living entirely in the sky for more than two months, they proved what determination (and a very sturdy 172!) can accomplish. Here’s to the dreamers who look at the impossible and say, “Let’s try it anyway.”