Aug
6

Polly #2 Toured the Foynes Flying Boat Museum and Yankee Clipper in Ireland

Full size replica of the Yankee Clipper

Polly #2 was excited to visit the Foynes Flying Boat Museum while she was in Ireland. According to their website, The Foynes Flying Boat Museum which housed in the original terminal building in County Limerick, recalls that nostalgic era when Foynes became the centre of the aviation world from 1939 to 1945.

The Museum has a comprehensive range of exhibits and graphic illustrations, where you can learn about the history of the flying boats in an authentic 1940′s cinema, featuring the award winning film ‘Atlantic Conquest’.

The original Terminal Building, Radio and Weather Room, complete with transmitters, receivers and Morse code equipment are also showcased at the museum.

Co-Captain Polly!

Polly is in control!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to Ask About Ireland:

On 9 July 1939, the Pan American World Airways luxury, long-range flying boat, the Yankee Clipper, landed at Foynes. The Yankee Clipper was made by the Boeing Airplane Company. It was one of the largest aircrafts in the world at the time.

Twelve Clippers were built for Pan American World Airways. They provided the first direct commercial passenger flights between the US and Europe. Pan American’s Clippers were built for luxury. Given the long duration of transatlantic flights at that time, it was desirable that the passengers flew in comfort.

The seats on the Yankee Clipper could be converted into thirty-six bunks for overnight accommodation. With a cruise speed of only 188 miles per hour – or 300 kilometres per hour – the flight time from Foynes to New York took over twenty-five hours. The aircraft had a lounge and dining area, and the galleys were crewed by top chefs.

Men and women were provided with separate dressing rooms and there was a deck for stretching and exercising. At $675 return from New York to Southampton, which amounts to about $9,590 in year 2006 dollars, only the super-rich could afford to fly. It is doubtful whether there has ever been a more luxurious aircraft.

Transatlantic flying was glamorous and unusual in the 1940s. The Pan American service was used by a variety of people, including film stars, politicians, businessmen and wartime refugees. Every attempt was made to make the journey comfortable for the plane’s important passengers. However, there was nothing luxurious about the take-off. Often, one of the plane’s wings would dip into the sea at take-off, pouring water in on the passengers as the plane leveled out.

Polly likes to travel in style!

Ready to have a bite to eat

The first Irish Coffee was also made here, and now is a well know drink around the world!

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