Hi Guys, I’m new here and was wondering if someone could help me. I’ve been searching without success for any book giving a detailed history of Irish national airline Aer Lingus. Neither the airline itself, or the biggest bookshop in Dublin, can find a title.
My interest is due to the fact that my late father Peter was an Aer Lingus DC3 captain in the late forties / early fifties and my mother a ground hostess at Dublin (Collinstown) airport.
I’m also looking for info on the real reason why the inaugural Aer Lingus Constellation flight, from Shannon to Boston and New York, was cancelled at short notice in 1948. Was this really, as has been suggested, because BOAC made them a huge financial offer for the Connies or due to pressure from the UK government not to operate the route in view of the recently signed Bermuda Agreement between the UK and USA.
Finally can anyone update me on investigations into the loss of an Aer Lingus Viscount off Tusker Rock in the Irish Sea. This is rumoured to have been shot down by an inadvertently fired Royal Navy SAM but the Irish and UK governments have consistently refused to comment and will not fund a salvage operation even though the position of the wreck is known.
Feel free to email any info to me. Thanks, Dave O’Byrne
By: Newforest - 29th February 2008 at 23:19
Welcome to the Forum which we hope you will find entertaining! Have you got any historic photos that might be of interest to us?:)
By: Arabella-Cox - 29th February 2008 at 22:28
Super Connies
Hello, My father was Kevin Mac Aleavey, He trained navigators for EI , I believe that when the Sean Lemass govt took over in Ireland was recognized that the country couldnt afford buying new planes , my dad was retrenched along with all the other navigators who joing KLM and other airlines my dad joined ICAO and worked in Montreal and Mexico, Keep in cintact Cheers Mike
By: Newforest - 19th September 2007 at 09:26
I have an interest in the Viscount crash because (1) It crashed just off the coast here in Wexford, South East Ireland (I can actually see Tuskar Rock lighthouse from the window here) and (2) a distant cousin was one of the cabin crew on the plane.
A review into the original crash report was held in 2000 and reported in 2002, and it agreed with most of the original report’s conclusions that catastrophic structural failure was the cause of the tragedy. It can be found on the Air Accident Investigation Unit website.
There is a new book published last year entitled ‘Cleared for Disaster’ by Michael O’Toole and the last chapter details the crash of the Viscount. The theory is that after the plane was ‘catastrophically damaged’, it flew for another thirty minutes attempting a landing but without any more radio calls. This book almost didn’t get published as the author died before this chapter was completed and it was only through the efforts of his widow that it is now available.
By: David Burke - 9th January 2005 at 18:33
Dave – If you read the accident report you will find that they recovered sixty five percent of the aircraft after an extensive recovery operation. They found no evidence of fire or explosion.
By: Andy in Beds - 9th January 2005 at 14:23
Thanks for that info Paul. Catastrophic structural failure can of course result from a number of different causes – corrosion, fatigue cracks or the explosive penetration of a missile. I’m just puzzled that there has been no attempt at salvage given that the exact location of the wreck is known and examination would clearly show if an explosion had occured.
Aidan Quigley was a friend of my father – I’d no idea he’d written a book. Thanks for the title and I’ll try a search for a used example.
Dave
try here:-
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=292869396
Looks like he also wrote some other books too.
Hope it helps.
Cheers
Andy
PS Welcome to the forum.
By: daveobyrne - 9th January 2005 at 14:14
Thanks for that info Paul. Catastrophic structural failure can of course result from a number of different causes – corrosion, fatigue cracks or the explosive penetration of a missile. I’m just puzzled that there has been no attempt at salvage given that the exact location of the wreck is known and examination would clearly show if an explosion had occured.
Aidan Quigley was a friend of my father – I’d no idea he’d written a book. Thanks for the title and I’ll try a search for a used example.
By: daveobyrne - 9th January 2005 at 14:04
I am not Irish, but I have a great affection for Aer Lingus and any national airline that has lasted this long. Have a look on www.Amazon.co.uk as there is a book entitled:
Pioneers in Flight: Aer Lingus and the Story of Aviation in Ireland by
Niall WeldonI think this may have the answers to your questions.
Thanks Albert, I’ve ordered a couple of Aer Lingus books from Amazon.
By: PaulR - 9th January 2005 at 13:33
I have an interest in the Viscount crash because (1) It crashed just off the coast here in Wexford, South East Ireland (I can actually see Tuskar Rock lighthouse from the window here) and (2) a distant cousin was one of the cabin crew on the plane.
A review into the original crash report was held in 2000 and reported in 2002, and it agreed with most of the original report’s conclusions that catastrophic structural failure was the cause of the tragedy. It can be found on the Air Accident Investigation Unit website.
Regarding the Aer Lingus history, there hasn’t been any official publication but there are loads of details, photos, etc., in the aforementioned “Pioneers in Flight: Aer Lingus and the Story of Aviation in Ireland”, or there’s “The Flight Of The Iolar: The Aer Lingus Experience 1936-1986” (The Iolar being AL’s first aircraft, a de Havilland 84 Dragon), and both are available from aeroflight.co.uk. Another good read is a more personal history by a former pilot for the company, Aidan A. Quigley, entitled “Green Is My Sky”, but I’m not sure if that’s still in print.
Hope that helps.
By: Manonthefence - 9th January 2005 at 13:00
Dave
I cant help but what I can do is suggets that you also post your request here at PPRuNe there are many old airline types there, you will probably get useful replies in both places.
Sorry I cant be more help.
By: ALBERT ROSS - 9th January 2005 at 12:57
I am not Irish, but I have a great affection for Aer Lingus and any national airline that has lasted this long. Have a look on www.Amazon.co.uk as there is a book entitled:
Pioneers in Flight: Aer Lingus and the Story of Aviation in Ireland by
Niall Weldon
I think this may have the answers to your questions.
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January 9, 2005 at 12:26 pm