Summary

  • John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown made the first nonstop transatlantic flight in 1919, flying a Vickers Vimy biplane for 16 hours 27 minutes.
  • Charles A. Lindbergh achieved the first nonstop solo flight in 1927, flying a Ryan M2 (Spirit of St. Louis) for 33 hours 30 minutes.
  • Lufthansa operated the first nonstop transatlantic passenger flight with a land-based aircraft in 1938, flying a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 “Condor” for 24 hours 55 minutes.

Hundreds of transatlantic flights run each day, transporting millions of passengers annually. A hundred years ago, flying for hours over water was considered almost impossible, let alone crossing the Atlantic. Simple Flying compiled a list of firsts in transatlantic flights.

1

First nonstop transatlantic flight of any kind

John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown

Date June 14, 1919
Aircraft Vickers Vimy
Pilots John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown
Distance 1,890 miles across the Atlantic
Origin Lester’s Field, St. John’s, Newfoundland
Destination Clifden, County Galway, Ireland
Flight duration 16 hours 27 minutes

Pilots John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown of the Royal Air Force (RAF) achieved the challenging feat onboard a Vickers Vimy F.B.27A Mk.IV biplane bomber. Following a comprehensive aircraft preparation, the pilots took off from Lester’s Field in St. Johns at 16:13 GMT on June 14, 1919.

A replica of Alcock and Brown's Vickers Vimy taxiing.

The crew faced several challenges on the way, including heavy fog, snow, icing, and severe turbulence. Despite the obstacles, the pilots crossed the Atlantic and reached the coast of Ireland. The pair landed on soft ground in Clifden, Ireland, at 08:40 GMT the following day. The aircraft was damaged during approach due to a nose pitch-over, but the pilots were not hurt.

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2

First nonstop solo flight

Charles A. Lindbergh

Date May 21, 1927
Aircraft Ryan M2 (Spirit of St. Louis)
Pilots Charles A. Lindbergh
Distance 3,610 miles
Origin Long Island, New York
Destination Paris, France
Flight duration 33 hours 30 minutes

In May 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh became the first person to perform a transatlantic flight from New York to Paris in a highly modified Ryan M-2 aircraft (Spirit of St. Louis).

Spirit_of_St_Louis_-_Smithsonian_Air_and_Space_Museum_-_2012-05-15_(7271417584)

According to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum,

“In 1919 New York hotel owner Raymond Orteig offered a $25,000 prize for the completion of the first nonstop flight between New York and Paris. Early in 1927, Charles Lindbergh obtained the backing of nine St. Louis investors to compete for the prize.”

Despite the fog, inclement weather, and sleep deprivation, Lindbergh completed the feat in 33.5 hours. The pilot achieved what many had failed to do before him.

Related

How the Spirit of St. Louis Won The Orteig Prize

3

First nonstop passenger flight with an airship

Eckener and Lehmann

Date October 11, 1928
Aircraft LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin Airship
Pilots Hugo Eckener, Commander, and Lehmann, First Officer
Distance 6,168 miles
Origin Friedrichshafen, Germany
Destination NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey
Flight duration 111 hours 44 minutes

Under the command of Higo Eckener, the first nonstop passenger flight with an airship took place on October 11, 1928. The flight left Friedrichshafen, Germany, and arrived at NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey, four days later, on October 15, 1928.

Luftschiff LZ 127 „Graf Zeppelin“

While the preparations for the flight had been going on for years, it was not until the aircraft, route markers, and crew were ready for the feat. The Graf Zeppelin traveled over 6,000 miles despite several meteorological and navigational challenges. As Lady Grace Drummond-Hay, a British journalist, described in the publication,

“The Graf Zeppelin is a ship with a soul. You have only to fly in it to know that it’s a living, vibrant, sensitive and magnificent thing.”

Related

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4

First nonstop passenger flight with a land-based aircraft

German flag carrier Lufthansa

Date August 10, 1938
Aircraft Focke-Wulf Fw 200 “Condor”
Operator Lufthansa
Distance 3,728 miles
Origin Berlin, Germany
Destination Brooklyn, New York
Flight duration 24 hours 55 minutes

Nearly 86 years ago, Lufthansa operated the first nonstop transatlantic passenger flight with a land-based aircraft. On August 10, 1938, Lufthansa flew a German-based Focke-Wulf aircraft for nearly 25 hours from Berlin to New York, making it a historic event in commercial aviation.

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A spokesperson from Lufthansa states, as reported by Forbes,

“As the world’s first four-engined, land-based passenger aircraft, with its record time, the Fw 200 indicated the possibilities of transatlantic air travel in the future. The revolutionary aircraft offered room for 26 passengers who traveled in comfortable upholstered seats. For the first time, specially-trained stewardesses were employed onboard and looked after the passengers.”

Related

More Than Just An Airliner: The Story Of The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor

Between 1937 and 1944 Focke-Wulf built 276 Fw 200 Condor aircraft.

5

First transatlantic commercial jet flight

British Overseas Aircraft Corporation (BOAC)

Date October 4, 1958
Aircraft de Havilland DH.106 Comet
Operator BOAC
Distance 3,550 miles
Origin Idlewild Airport, New York
Destination London Heathrow
Flight duration 6 hours 12 minutes

The British Overseas Aircraft Corporation (BOAC) became the first to perform a scheduled transatlantic commercial jet flight. On October 4, 1958, two simultaneous jet aircraft flights were run. One is eastbound from New York to London (Registration APDB), and the other is westbound from London to New York (G-APDC).

A Mexicana de Havilland Comet flying in the sky.

The Independent states that one of the flight attendants, Peggy Thorne, on the New York service shared the experience, saying,

“It was marvellous. We were used to travelling to New York on Boeing Stratocruisers which took up to 20 hours. We couldn’t believe the flight was possible in such a short time. There were all sorts of dignitaries on board, press and the chairman of BOAC. It was a thrilling experience. We served customers Madeira biscuits and coffee when they came onboard, followed by cocktails and canapes, and then a five-course lunch with wines. [Passengers] ate and drank from when they got on board until the time they got off.”

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