ON TOUR: Boeings Latest ” The B314
Drive west along the main costal road (N69) from Ireland's third city
Limerick in the direction of Tralee and if it is in 2007, right in the
middle (on the left hand side) of the small village and port of Foynes
you will see an airport control tower and what appears to be the rear
tail plane of an aircraft. You would have arrived at the world”s only
flying boat museum, and in its own way one of the finest aviation
heritage sites anywhere in the globe. From Shannon Hertz will hire
you a car for the day (E25) and the journey will take just 45 minutes.
On 9 July 1939, Pan Am”s luxury flying boat ”Yankee Clipper” Boeing
314, landed at Foynes. It was the first commercial passenger flight
on the direct route between the United States and Europe. During the
late 1930s and early 1940s, this quiet town on the Shannon Estuary
became the focal point for air traffic on the North Atlantic. Many
famous politicians, international businessmen, film stars,
active-service men and wartime refugees passed through Foynes. From
1939 to 1945 Foynes really was the centre of international aviation.
Whilst Ireland was neutral, most passengers coming through Foynes were
top-level military and diplomatic personnel with high priority on
transatlantic flights. Many were on active duty and travelling with
false passports, the most famous one of all being Sir Winston
Churchill. Humphrey Bogart, Bob Hope and Gracie Fields were other
celebrities and VIPs who chose the air as a way to cross the Atlantic
in those dark war years.
On 22 June Charles Blair, chief pilot for American Export Airlines,
took off from Foynes for the United States. His flight plan included
the usual refuelling stop at Newfoundland ” but this was to become the
first non-stop commercial flight from Europe to New York. His
Vought-Sikorsky VS44 flying boat needed a little less than one gallon
of fuel per mile. Approaching Newfoundland, Blair had about a
thousand gallons of fuel left and as many miles to go to New York but,
as he wrote later, he was ”beginning to toy with the idea of going all
the way”. As he taxied into the flying boat base at La Guardia 25
hours and 40 minutes after leaving Foynes, there were just 95 gallons
left in the reserve tank. Amongst his passengers on this occasion was
Admiral Cunningham of ”Sink the Bismarck” fame ” A remarkable voyage”
said the hero of the Royal Navy. Charles Blair, who was sadly killed
in 1978 flying a Grumman Goose amphibian, married the Dublin born
Hollywood movie icon Maureen O”Hara.
With the opening of the international airport across the estuary
Foynes closed as a seaplane base in 1946 and it was not until 1989
that a group of enthusiastic locals managed to open a small museum in
memory of the past, and, being Irish, an eye to tourism and the future.
The museum has been a great success but the one thing it lacked was a
real seaplane. All has now changed. Two weeks back the museum, and
it was Miss O”Hara, now a sprightly 86 who did the honours, unveiled
its new self, including a full scale replica of one of the Boeing 314
flying boat, of which only 12 were ever built. With a E2m investment
it is set to become a major tourist attraction for south west Ireland.
The B314 reproduction, built by top film industry set builder, Bill
Fallover, will have its tail plane added any day now, and funds for
the control tower have been found. Even without these two bonus
items the museum is remarkable with its 60 seat film theatre,
fascinating historical displays, simulators, special children's area
and a Treasures Room. Plus a large covered central area suitable for
receptions and conferences. But the real star is the B314 Yankee
Clipper seaplane, exact in every detail and complete with its luxurious
honeymoon suite. The aircraft sits in a special water pool display
area. The aircraft challenged the ocean liners and provided the same
class of luxury. Seven course meals were provided in the 14-seat
dining room and a very well equipped galley, 1930”s in style of course.
By today”s standards, the flight deck is enormous, in theory at least
nearly able to take a full sized billiards table. The washrooms are
large and the seating, whilst hardly meeting FAA safely standards,
very comfortable. There was sleeping accommodation too, much the same
as proposed in Boeing”s new 747-8 intercontinental. Cruising speed of
the aircraft was a stately 190 mph and whilst on the North Atlantic
only 35 passengers were carried in five separate cabins, the aircraft
could accommodate 75. Of the 12 aircraft built three were lost in
accidents (only one with fatalities) and the last of all was destroyed
by fire in 1951. Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Harrison Ford film,
featured what was supposed to be a Boeing B314 but in fact was a
Shorts Solent.
Next up for the Foynes Museum? A real Shorts flying boat (there are
some about, but gaining a loan is a problem) and perhaps the re-opening
of the railway line to Limerick, and on to Dublin. 50,00 tourists are
expected next year.
POSTSCRIPT: Irish coffee is supposed to have been invented at Foynes.
After a long night flight from Newfoundland it was one way of warming
up passengers and crew.
http://www.flyingboatmuseum.com