Our Atlantic Attempt

Our Atlantic Attempt

by H.G.Hawker (Author), Grieve Mac Kenzie (Author)

Synopsis

On 18 May 1919 Harry Hawker, chief test pilot for the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War, and K. Mackenzie Grieve, an officer in the Royal Navy, took off from Pearl Aerodrome, near St John's in Newfoundland, in a Sopwith Atlantic aeroplane, designed by Tom Sopwith, piloted by Hawker and navigated by Mackenzie Grieve. This was the first ever attempt to fly across the Atlantic. The coast of Ireland was approximately 1,750 miles away on the other side of a notoriously inhospitable ocean. Unfortunately, their aeroplane developed engine trouble after only 1,050 miles and they were forced to ditch in the water, although thankfully they were rescued by a passing ship. Despite its failure this pioneering flight was an enormous feat of courage and airmanship, and this is Hawker and Mackenzie Grieve's own account of the first attempt to fly across the Atlantic, which thousands of air passengers now do every day without a thought for these brave pioneers.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 144
Publisher: The History Press
Published: 01 Nov 2007

ISBN 10: 1845886038
ISBN 13: 9781845886035

Author Bio
Harry Hawker (1889-1921) was an Australian aviation pioneer who was chief test pilot for the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War, when the company was responsible for producing some of the most important British aeroplanes, notably the Sopwith Camel. After the war Hawker, Tom Sopwith, Fred Sigist and Bill Eyre founded what would eventually become Hawker Siddeley Aircraft, manufacturer of the Hawker Hurricane, workhorse of R.A.F. Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain.K. Mackenzie Grieve was an officer in the Royal Navy