Fitz and the Famous Flight

Colonel James Fitzmaurice (aka Fitz), Irish pioneering aviator, co-piloted the first East to West Atlantic flight in 1928.

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

Please join us in marking the 96th anniversary of the first east to west transatlantic flight. All welcome

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

From left: Julie Scully, David Fitzgerald, Martin Scally (Westmeath), Dermot Gannon, Teddy Fennelly, Claudine Leonard, Brian O’Rourke (Dublin), Irene Kavanagh (Dublin) and Michael Parsons, (Col. James Fitzmaurice committee).

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

Flying model of the Portlaoise Flyer, built by Dermot Gannon with group on visit to Portlaoise during National Heritage Week to see the Flyer, first plane to be built in the Republic of Ireland. Continued in messages below

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

On a visit to the Portlaoise Flyer, the first plane built&flown in the Republic of Ireland, for NHW2023, were Irene Kavanagh, Dublin, Martin Scally (Westmeath), Michael Parsons (Guide), Julie Scully, Brian O’Rourke (Dublin), David Fitzgerald, Claudine Leonard , Teddy Fennelly

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

We enjoyed giving the Ukrainian Laois community a tour of Portlaoise& the Portlaoise Plane earlier today - sharing our rich heritage&history as part of National Heritage Week 2023. Thank you to ULSA Chairperson Nataly Uhnenko &our tour guides Michael Parsons and Teddy Fennelly

[Laois Heritage @laoisheritage]

TUNE IN tonight! a great chance to hear about a truly amazing story in Ireland's aviation history. And it started in Portlaoise..
@FitzFamous @teddyfennelly @HeritageWeek
#LaoisHeritage 🛩️

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

We are looking forward to tuning in at 7pm tonight. If you want to visit the Portlaoise Plane tomorrow with @teddyfennelly and Michael Parsons please register here
https://t.co/w2vbzxDBr4

[RTÉ Nationwide @RTENationwide]

As part of Heritage Week, we hear about the restoration of a plane built in Portlaoise in the early 20th century @portlaoiseplane on #RTENationwide this evening Fri. 18th August @RTEOne 7pm RT @rte @LaoisHour @LaoisCouncil @LaoisToday @laoisheritage @tourism_laois

[RTÉ Nationwide @RTENationwide]

As part of Heritage Week, we hear about the restoration of a plane built in Portlaoise in the early 20th century @portlaoiseplane on #RTENationwide this evening Fri. 18th August @RTEOne 7pm RT @rte @LaoisHour @LaoisCouncil @LaoisToday @laoisheritage @tourism_laois

[Alan Phelan @APPhelan]

@FitzFamous
Another chance to see the fantastic Portlaoise Plane story on @RTENationwide Friday evening 18th August 2023

https://t.co/CSt2Faof9h

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

Ahead of his time and a visionary . We are now looking ahead to our centenary planning #fitz2028 and look forward to sharing plans with you all.

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

To celebrate the 95th anniversary of the heroic first east west transatlantic flight and @HeritageWeek ; we lay wreaths at the grave of Col James Fitzmaurice @teddyfennelly & Ralph James spoke about Fitz: his vision and the impact of the flight globally …

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

Looking forward to it.

[Laois Tourism @tourism_laois]

Join the history tours of the Old Fort Quarter with renowned historians Teddy Fennelly and Michael Parsons June 24th & 25th during the Old Fort Festival 📜
Leaving the new library site Main Street, Portlaoise @ 2pm and 4pm sharp🚶
Learn all of the history of the town for FREE! 😍

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

We wish to extend a céad míle Fáilte @potus - the strong friendship between our nations in no small part due to this aviation feat.

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

Today marks the 95th anniversary of the first east west transatlantic flight by our own Col Fitzmaurice and Capt Köhl & Baron von Hüenfeld.

Annual wreath laying takes place at midday on Sunday 16th in Fitzmaurice Place @12noon. All welcome

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

@GOCAirCorps @SocietyLaois @IrishAirCorps @teddyfennelly @Laoisarcha @APPhelan Go raibh mile maith Brigadier O’Connor for your continued support ☘️

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

Congratulations to the Paddock NS and Tullamore College who were the winners of the Festival of Flight Schools Project, organised by The Col Fitzmaurice committee and @SocietyLaois

We hope that the day with the @IrishAirCorps will live long in their memories. Details below

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

Organised by the Col Fitzmaurice committee, @SocietyLaois and @CentreLaois and @IrishAirCorps

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

@IrishAirCorps Thanks @IrishAirCorps for pulling out all the stops for us all. It is great to see the awareness & interest in the students about Fitz and the Bremen flight - which departed from the plaque pictured above 95 years ago next month. Thank you

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

Sincere thanks to CO. Brig General, Rory O’Connor, and his staff for organising such a memorable day.

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

Students relished the experience of a virtual helicopter flight and fascinated by a visit to see rare birds of prey which play an important function in the safety of flight at Baldonnel Aerodrome.

[Fitz and the Famous Flight @FitzFamous]

First it was the Aviation Museum with Curator Sergt Michael Whelan who gave a guided tour of the Museum and then Press Officer, Capt Neal Dunne, led the tour of the hangers and runways and of the planes and helicopters therein.