Here is a history of Russia's 1937 attempt to convince the world that their aircraft could fly great distances nonstop.  In collaboration with Canadian and American governments the Soviets tasked a long distance flight to fly from Moscow to the United States (Vancouver, Washington) without refuelling. 
Using a French aircraft  they called their own, the Russians arrived in the U.S. with great fanfare, but read what author Chris Weicht has determined from years of sleuthing this historic event.