Transatlantic flights in the 1950s

Hector Savage

Hi aviation enthusiasts!

Just listening to liveline here (I know , I like to torture my ears) and a flight to New York (i think .. definetely east coast) from Ireland in 1954 was mentioned.

For sure they would have stopped at Shannon, but would it make it direct to New York or Boston? or would they need to make a stop in Newfoundland or Iceland ?

Also what type of plane would typically make these flights ?

Thanks

banie01

Hector Savage wrote: »

Hi aviation enthusiasts!

Just listening to liveline here (I know , I like to torture my ears) and a flight to New York (i think .. definetely east coast) from Ireland in 1954 was mentioned.

For sure they would have stopped at Shannon, but would it make it direct to New York or Boston? or would they need to make a stop in Newfoundland or Iceland ?

Also what type of plane would typically make these flights ?

Thanks

Lockheed Super Constellation or Douglas DC-7 would be most likely I reckon.
Aer Lingus used to operate Connies AFAIK.

Tabnabs

Idlewild (JFK) to Gander to Shannon to final European destination, AFAIK.

RadioRetro

Transatlantic flights by AL didn't begin until 1958 with three Connies. A previous FG government had stopped an earlier start saying AL was too small for such notions.

Irish Steve

Super Constellation had a range that should have meant it could do Shannon to New York non stop in either direction, if the information on Wikipedia is correct. The earlier Constellation would have been restricted, and could not have made it with full load, but could with restricted load and more fuel.

It's only when we look at some of these figures, it becomes clear just how fast aviation changed, and how fast it continued to change, especially when you look at the range of the latest jets that are now being sold.

0lddog

Remember the Connies @ Collinstown as if it was yesterday

Comhrá

As a child I lived in N. Tipperary and under the route from DUB to SNN. I can recall the EI Connies passing over our house occasionally, heading for SNN. We were in total awe at the idea that those huge birds were able to fly from Shannon to New York.

smurfjed

Remember the Connies @ Collinstown as if it was yesterday

Which one was dumped down by the EI Hangar for years? I got the door handle "arrow" out of it before it was scrapped.

EchoIndia

smurfjed wrote: »

Which one was dumped down by the EI Hangar for years? I got the door handle "arrow" out of it before it was scrapped.

This one, though it never flew with an Irish carrier.