St. John's International Airport, Torbay Newfoundland
Vimy (NX71MY) Departed 19:19 Local Time
It was a grey blustery evening in Torbay this evening with a strong
breeze nearing a gale blowing out toward the Atlantic Ocean. At long
last after forty-five days since departing the western United States
on a re-enactment of the first non-stop transatlantic flight by Alcock
& Whitten-Brown, the Vimy is finally away from St. John's, Newfoundland.
The aircraft with Pilot and Navigator have just headed out on the last
leg of this historic journey enroute to a landing on a golf course at
Clifden, Ireland.
The clock on my digital camera timed the wheels up at 19:19 hrs local
Newfoundland time which is rather an odd coincidence as that was the
year of Alcock & Whitten-Brown's success, I take this to be a good
omen. Earlier at just a little after 18:00 hrs local time Mark Rebholz
stepped into the cockpit and under the watchful eye of John LaNoue the
aircraft's builder, ran the up the engines for a final check, shut down
and stepped out again.
Following this all went silent until just around 19:00 hrs local time
when applause broke amongst the crowd as Mark appeared again and approached
the aircraft wearing his bright orange flightsuit. John busied himself
around the aircraft assisting Mark with items to be stowed and Mark
stepped off Newfoundland soil and into the cockpit for the last time
on this side of the Atlantic.
Then once again applause broke out signalling the approach of Steve
Fosset in his yellow flightsuit. With both now safely in the Vimy's
cockpit all was ready for the start-up and taxi out to runway 29, which
at 8500' is St. John's longest.
Steve will be piloting the aircraft and Mark will be the navigator for
the final leg. The St. John's International Airport Authorities were
very generous in allowing the small crowd of less than five-hundred,
thinned to only the most hardcore enthusiasts by weeks of waiting, to
gather around at a safe distance as many photos and videos were being
taken. John LaNoue standing in front of the Vimy kept a watchful eye
on the final startup, all was well and the Vimy began to roll out and
then taxied smoothly. The crowd was allowed to follow behind the aircraft
up the ramp and were directed by the Commissionaires present to an ideal
location so as to view the take off which looked effortless.
The Vimy then doubled back and made a pass over the crowd turning eastward
toward Signal Hill and the Harbour Narrows minutes later taking one
turn over the Harbour area. Then it was out over the Atlantic eventually
disappearing into the mists with our thoughts and prayers to help them
on their way.
We are now all waiting for the news of their arrival in Clifden which
Mark told me should take somewhere around 20 hours plus or minus depending
upon tail wind. So by mid to late afternoon tomorrow Sunday, Newfoundland
time, the Vimy will land and her crew will walk on Irish soil, on their
way to a well deserved rest.
Kindest regards,
Frank Penney