The First Transatlantic Flights

The First Plane to Make the Trans-Atlantic Hop from East to West

Photograph of the Bremen aircraft, the first plane to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the east to west direction, in April 1927

The First Plane to Make the Trans-Atlantic Hop from East to West

The First Plane to Make the Trans-Atlantic Hop from East to West

Photograph of the Bremen aircraft, the first plane to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the east to west direction, in April 1927

Enlarge image

The Crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by air was first achieved by a NC4 Flying Boat piloted by Lt. Commander Reade of the U.S. Navy in 1919. It flew from Newfoundland to Plymouth, England, via the Azores and Lisbon. It took 35 hours and 58 minutes, spread over 28 days. Within a few weeks of Reade's achievement a group of experienced aviators gathered in Newfoundland to prepare to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight. Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten-Brown left Newfoundland at 5:15pm on 13th June 1919 and landed in a bog near Clifden in County Galway the following day. They had flown 1,890 miles in 16 hours and 27 minutes, an achievement for which they were later knighted.

On the 40th anniversary of the flight, 15th June 1959, a memorial plaque was unveiled by Sean Lemass, TD, near the site of the historic landing. The flight of Alcock and Brown was of particular significance to Irish aviators because it highlighted Ireland's advantageous position on the world's great air route.

In May 1927 Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo non-stop from America to Europe. He left Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York for Paris on 20th May and arrived there on the evening of 21st May. The flight time for the epic journey was 33 hours and 38 minutes. Lindbergh's heroism and bravery in accomplishing this flight has made him one of aviation's most celebrated figures.

All of these flights originated in the west and it was not until April 1928 and the Flight of the Bremen, that the more dangerous east-west crossing was made.