MAY 27

On this date exactly 100 years ago, the first transatlantic airplane flight was completed.  The plane was called the Curtiss NC-4.  This was not a non-stop flight.

The plane was a collaboration between Curtiss Aeroplane and the U.S. Navy.  It departed New York on May 8 and arrived in Lisbon, Portugal 19 days later.  Not quite as fast as today's service to Europe.  You see, after it left New York it had to stop in Boston for repairs.  From there it made short hops to Nova Scotia, Canada and then Newfoundland, Canada. Each time, more repairs were made.  From there it made it all the way to the Azores Islands but had to make two stops there.  Finally, the last hop took it to Lisbon - same plane all the way across the Atlantic. 

Today, you can fly New York to Lisbon in a bout six hours.   So, think of this story and don't complain when the airlines delay your flight an hour or two.  Here is a picture of the plane.



HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY - TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THOSE WE MEMORIALIZE.