Categories: uncategorized
Date: 17 March 2008 12:46:35
The Sunday was a leisurely day for us. The aim had been to drive down to Cork for the day but we had to cancel this due to the weather and the fact that I was meeting a former member of my customer's staff.
After meeting John we decided to set off for a local attraction instead. The winner was the Flying Boat Museum at Foynes. This is where Transatlantic air services originated. All services originated here with connecting flights, from nearby Shannon, to the UK. This was home to the Pan Am Atlantic Clipper service and Imperial Airways.
We watched a film of the history and development of Foynes from its recommendation by Charles Lindbergh as the base for Pan Am's operation. This followed the development of the route and the problems encountered by the Brits to actually build a suitable plane to fulfill their commitments. Unfortunately passenger flights stopped shortly after WW2 because of the development of land based aircraft that could fly the route quicker. Then cargo flights finished in the 1950's.
The highlight was being able to walk into a full size replica of the fuselge of a Boeing 314, Pan Am's most successful aircraft. We also got to "fly" a 314 on a stimulator. Unfortunately FW crashed on landing but, somehow, this was my fault because of the instructions I gave her.
The evening was spent having a meal in a local pub. Unfortunately this was very rushed as the pub was closing as we arrived. The food was good but it's hard to eat while the staff are clearing tables all around you. However I did get to watch the highlights of the weekend's Hurling on the large TV.
The night was very stormy with rain and wind lashing at the hotel. When we got up on the Monday morning though the sun was out and the wind had died down. Our flight was on time leaving Shannon and arriving at East Midlands. However we've since found out that our neighbour was delayed by 20 hours that afternoon because of the weather.