1940's -- NORTH AMERCIAN P-82, The Army Air Forces' "Twin Mustang" P-82, built by North American Aviation, prior to attempting to set a dual record for speed and fighter endurance on a 5,000 mile flight from Hawaii to New York. The plane was constructed by joining two P-51 fuselages to a single wing. It had a top speed of 475 miles per hour, with a wing span of 51 feet, three inches, and was 38 feet, one inch long. It carried two pilots, one in each cockpit, and was equipped with an automatic pilot, and a pulsating seat to eliminate pilot fatique on long range flights. (U.S. Air Force photo)