Alcock and Brown

In 1913 Lord Northcliffe, proprietor of the Daily Mail, offered a prize of 10, 000 pounds for the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic by a “heavier than air” machine. A seventy-two hour time limit was set under the rules drawn up and administered by the Royal Aero Club.

Alcock and Brown’s Vickers Vimy left St John’s Newfoundland at 4.12pm GMT, Sat 14 June and arrived Derrygimla, Clifden 8.40am GMT, Sunday 15th June 1919. Flight time 16 hours 28 minutes. Distance over 1, 900 miles. Average speed during flight 120 MPH. This is their story.