The pilot was Al Parker and the ship was a Sisu 1A . It was the
world's first 1000km flight, and the plane is now in the Smithsonian.
Flight was from Odessa TX to Kimball NE. See:
www.eaglebrandproducts.com/N6390X/ for more details

Dick's ship was the RJ-5, and that was in 1951 and the record stood 13
years. see:
http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/Pl...fm?planeID=274
A great guy indeed, and is already sorely missed by this pilot.

-Paul


Some general comments, questions and ramblings. Warning - there are
movie spoilers below (no pun intended);

* There is a reference in the movie to a pilot that "set a record of
over 600 miles between Odessa, TX and Nebraska riding a storm front".
Was that Dick Johnson? Jim Short mentioned Dick's record to me just
last night and said that it stood for over 10 years. He also
mentioned that Dick flew a glider of his own design (don't recall the
name). Damn shame about Dick. Great guy.