100th Anniversary

1st Trans-Atlantic Flight

May 2019 marks the 100th Anniversary of the very first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by any aircraft. The crossing was made by US Navy Curtiss (NC) flying boats. That historic first flight started on May 8, 1919, at NAS Rockaway New York with three aircraft, NC-1, NC-3 and NC-4. After many trials that tested man and machine, with the support of more than 50 US Naval warships, NC-4 landed in the harbor at Plymouth England 23 days later, at 1:27 p.m. on May 31, 1919. That was truly an epic feat for the US Navy, the United States of America, and indeed all of mankind!

Seaplane Crossings, INC has put together the perfect team of Grumman HU-16 Albatross amphibians and flight crews to replicate this historic first crossing of the Atlantic. Our aircraft will be repainted to historic US Navy colors, with (NC) “1”, (NC) “3” and (NC) “4” painted on their bows. We propose gathering at NAS Pensacola Florida, the “Cradle of Naval Aviation” and home of the original NC-4, before stepping to New York to begin the crossing. On the morning of May 8, 2019, 100 years to the day, NC-1, NC-3 and NC-4 will once again taxi out from Jamaica Bay off Rockaway and depart for Europe.