![]() To get it there, a pilot had to land the plane on World Drive, one of Disney World's main roadways. Walt's plane todayĪfter Walt's death, the plane was used by the company until it was decommissioned in 1992 and became a part of the Studio Backlot Tour at Disney-MGM Studios at Disney World. ![]() Walt's final flight on his Gulfstream was Nov. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan are among those who flew on board "The Mouse." Disney legends like Julie Andrews and Annette Funicello and former U.S. The plane made other memorable journeys - to Florida in 1965 to announce the secret "Florida Project" the company had been working on (now known as Walt Disney World) and to Washington, D.C., when Walt received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964. Walt ordered his very own Gulfstream shortly thereafter, and by March 1, 1964, "The Mouse" was ready to fly. Not only was the Gulfstream more spacious than the Queen Air, but it was also faster and could fly farther before needing to refuel. ![]() Bigger is betterĪs the story goes, upon landing at LaGuardia Aiport (LGA) on one of his many journeys, someone mentioned to Walt that they were surprised a man of his stature wasn't flying in a Grumman Gulfstream. It was registered with the tail number N234MM, chosen because the "MM" matched Mickey Mouse's initials. Walt's first plane was a Beechcraft Queen Air, an eight-seater, twin-engine light aircraft that Walt purchased in 1963. His dreams reached far beyond Southern California, and to make those dreams a reality he needed a plane. Walt's foray into flightĪs successful as Disneyland was when it opened in 1955, Walt was nowhere near ready to rest on his laurels. The turboprop-powered aircraft was the first plane designed specifically for corporate use - and use it he did.įor more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. ![]() From 1964 until his death in 1966, Walt flew in a fully-customized Grumman Gulfstream I. Years before the Southern California theme park opened its gates, Walt built a ridable miniature railroad in his own backyard.Īs integral as trains were to Walt's life and his parks, he had an equally fervent fascination with planes. His passion for steam-powered locomotives went well beyond the Disneyland Railroad, an opening day attraction at Disneyland that is still in operation today. Even the most casual of Walt Disney historians knows about Walt's love affair with trains. ![]()
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