Foynes

Guess, where this town is! No idea? It is located on the westcoast of Ireland, a bit up the river Shannon. Click here for a map!

On July 9th 1939, Pan Am's luxury Flying Boat, the "Yankee Clipper" landed at Foynes. This was the first commercial passenger flight on a direct route from the USA to Europe. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, this quiet little town on the Shannon became the focal point for air traffic on the North Atlantic. Many famous politicians, international businessmen, film stars, active-service-men and wartime refugees passed through Foynes.

And so it came, that Foynes was center of the aviation world from 1939 to 1945.

Forgotten?

No!

The memory is well kept by The Foynes Flying Boat Museum and its Manager Margaret O'Shaughnessy. On research for this project I recently had the pleasure of meeting her. The museum is located at the original Terminal Building (though you would not recognise it). It features a 1940s style cinema (like the ones built for the Clipper passengers to watch news reels before their departure), where you can watch a special 15' film on Foynes and Flying Boats. This video in a much more detailed 52' version (PAL or NTSC) can be purchased from the museum. We definietly do recommend it for any aviation interested person. This is not just about Flying Boats. This is about aviation history. Just email Margaret and get your quote.

When you come to Foynes (the museum is open from March 31st to October 31st), get a car and drive N69 from Foynes to Tarbert and back. Try to do this during the hours just before sunset. The light is enchanting at this time of the day. Pull over at the frequent vista points along the route. Step out and approach the river banks. Inhale the atmosphere, look at Foynes Island and let your immagination fly. Think back when those big Flying Boats roared past the Island, leaving big wakes behind them. How they came clear of the water by the Captains short pull on the wheel, which he then pushed back instantly. How they flew by the waving crowd, climbing on their way to America. You may be brought back to reality by a real aircrafts engine sound. When the aera of Flying Boats ended just after WWII, Shannon Airport Foynes (which was the exact name) became obsolete. Instead a new airport for landbased aircaft was built some 15 mi northeast, just across the river. And this is where aicraft engines sound comes from these days ...

Please visit the museum or, if you can't, consider a donation. They are taxdeductable! Margaret has many plans (such as a Mock Up of a B314 Clipper!), but unfortunately, all costs money. Boeing originally had agreed in sponsoring some of these ideas, but withdrew the offer after September 11th. This place is privately owned and run. It has no Big Spender backing it up. It NEEDS us visiting it. When we hop on a 747 in London and off in NYC some five hours later, we must not forget, what started it all!

The Museums website: http://www.flyingboatmuseum.com