In 1983, Dick Smith made the first solo helicopter flight around the world, taking a leisurely 11 months. The previous year, Ross Perot, Jr. with Jay Colburn had, flying together, established an around the world helicopter flight record. To make the flight possible both Smith and Perot had to hire an ocean-going vessel and predisposition it between Japan and the Aleutians for refueling. Choosing the route was made more difficult at that time, when Russia's airspace was closed. Smith's helicopter is now in the Sydney, Australia, aeronautical museum.