23/6/2005

Local News

Steve aims for transatlantic repeat

Vickers Vimy replica lands at Brooklands Museum.

The pair are seeking to repeat the first transatlantic flight by a heavier-than-air aircraft undertaken by Alcock and Brown in 1919. 
Steve’s aircraft is well known to the staff and volunteers at Brooklands because his 70ft wingspan vintage-style beauty was nursed by the museum back in 1994 before the aircraft took off from the historic airfield to fly 15,000 miles to Australia.
The crew is due to leave St John’s, Newfoundland this week, subject to weather, to undertake the 24-hour flight to Clifden, Ireland.
The replica’s livery has changed since its days at Brooklands in the mid-1990s, when it was named “The Spirit of Brooklands” and was painted racing green. 
Once it completes its mission, the hope is the Vimy will give an honorary fly-past over Brooklands Museum. To follow the bi-plane’s progress, go to www.vimy.org

First printed in: Byfleet News and Mail