Steve Fossett, and his navigator, fellow American Mark Rebholz safely landed their replica Vickers Vimy W.W.I. bomber at a golf course near Clifden after a successful attempt to re-enact the first crossing of the Atlantic in 1919, by John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown. A large number of spectators watched and applauded as the bi-plane landed and rolled gently to a halt after a gruelling nineteen hour flight from St. John’s in Newfoundland, a distance of approximately 3,150 kilometres.

Many hundreds of people surrounded the bi-plane to congratulate the airmen as they climbed from the cockpit. Garlands were placed around their necks while a flight of three aircraft, from the Army Air Corps, flew in formation overhead. Both men, obviously tired but elated, shook hands, and talked with all comers and posed for photographs, which I’m sure will find pride-of-place in many a family album.. Earlier this year, Steve Foster again made aeronautical history, when he piloted the first 67 hour, non-stop flight, around the world.

Mr. Fossett, a multi-millionaire, is a stockbroker and Investment Consultant, and Mr. Rebholz, who used a sextant and compass to plot the flight, is a 747-400 pilot with United Airlines.

The photos below show some of the events unfolding at the landing place.

Approaching the landing place.

Aircraft on the ground

Steve Fossett with young admirer.

Mark Rehbolz in cockpir after landing.