The Alcock and Brown Landing Site is a memorial site near Clifden in Connemara. It was here that British aviators Alcock and Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight in history! A feat hitherto unattainable! To mark the occasion, Ireland has erected a memorial in the shape of an aircraft tail: the Alcock and Brown Landing Site!
The terrible challenge set by British aviators Alcock and Brown was far from won… They were very ambitious, dreaming of making the first non-stop transatlantic flight! They set off from Newfoundland, carrying a few sacks of mail (the first mail to be sent across the Atlantic by air!), with the firm intention of reaching Europe in a single bound.
In less than 16 hours, the pilot duo sighted Ireland and decided to land near Clifden. The aircraft was damaged on arrival due to an attempted landing in what appeared to be a suitable field, but turned out to be a bog. Luckily, the pilots escaped unhurt, and touched down on Irish soil at 8.40am on June 15, 1919.
A feat that earned them an award from Winston Churchill and made them heroes in their own right!
In tribute, a monument in the shape of an airplane tail has been erected on Errislannan Hill, less than 2km north of the official landing zone.
It’s free to enter, and is sure to delight aviation enthusiasts!
Essential information to help you plan your visit, including key landmarks, access information, and booking options.
on the Errislannan hill, Clifden (County Galway) - Republic of Ireland
53.445787, -10.021888
30 minutes
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