April 28th, 1958, Aer Lingus start TA Services

[Just a spotter]

50 years ago today, Trans Atlantic services started from Dublin Airport using Super Connies operated by Aerlinte Eireann

http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00179/aerlingus_179768t.jpg (http://www.independent.ie/national-news/aer-lingus-50-years-of-american-dreams-1357185.html)

http://www.seaboardairlines.org/misc/aer_lingus-1.htm

JAS

[norwich]

What a supurb account of a first flight, so unusual to see it from the cabin crew point of view. Thank you for sharing that ! Most annoying thing is it was just within my lifespan UUrrgh ! Keith

[Liffy 1M]

However the photo you have appended is of one of three L-749 Constellations delivered to Aerlinte in 1947 for a transatlantic service which was chopped by a new inter-party Government as an austerity measure, before it ever got going.

The three Connies were sold to BOAC, reportedly at a profit, but Aerlinte had to stand by for another 10 years while a multitude of carriers from Europe and North America staged through Shannon Airport, picking up substantial transatlantic passenger traffic which could have been carried by the Irish airline.

[Just a spotter]

Hi Liffy

I thought it was odd that it wore an EI reg all right. It's the image used by the Irish Independet to cover the story (liked through via the pic).

Incientially, I believe one of the connies used, N1005C is still (mostly) intact in the US.

http://www.conniesurvivors.com/N1005C.htm

The tale of 1940's government intervention on TA routes is all too similar to that of the debacle over the 767's in the early 1990's.

JAS