British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight in June 1919, flying a modified First World War Vickers Vimy bomber from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Clifden, Connemara, County Galway. A small amount of mail was carried on the flight, making it the first transatlantic airmail flight. The two aviators were awarded the honour of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) a week later by King George V at Windsor Castle.
To celebrate the centenary of this flight, Galway County Heritage Office, Galway County Council in collaboration with Alcock and Brown 100, Clifden Chamber of Commerce, Creative Ireland and Galway Education Centre have developed a Junior and a Senior Bi-lingual workbook for primary schools. It is hoped that these online workbooks and will provide a link between heritage, education, science (STEM) , geography and aviation.
Although on first glance the story may seem to be just an historic aviation achievement it also allows us to explain other issues faced by the airmen such as weather, navigation, distances, size and indeed some technology.
