Transatlantic Flying Boat Lands at Foynes, Co. Limerick, Ireland 1976
The first flying boat piloted by Captain Charles Blair lands at Foynes Harbour, County Limerick after thirty one years.
Captain Charles Blair accompanied by his wife actress Maureen O’Hara, landed the ‘Southern Cross’ seaplane into Foynes, thirty one years after he had flown the last seaplane out of Foynes in 1945.
It took more than 25 hours for the white and silver grey aircraft to travel from the Virgin Islands to Ireland with stopovers in Boston and Newfoundland.
The party was welcomed at the Foynes Yacht Club by Commodore Dan O’Sullivan and by a crowd of well wishers who had waited hours to greet them.
It is hoped that the flying boat will be used by Aer Arann to transport visitors up and down the West Coast of Ireland as part of a tourism initiative from the three flying boat bases at Foynes, Lough Derg, and the Aran Islands.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 8 July 1976.
Credit to : CR’s Video Vaults