Re-creation of 1919 cross-Atlantic flight is successful

Steve Fossett and his co-pilot Mark Rebholz successfully flew a custom-built replica biplane across the Atlantic from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada and landed on Sunday at a golf course in Clifden, in the west of Ireland.

The trip took approximately 17 hours, 45 minutes longer than the original flight back in June 1919, which was flown by British pilots John Alcock and Arthur Whitten-Brown, who on their original trip, crash landed in a swamp.

The trip was completely flown in a replica Vickers Vimy, a type of World War One bomber. This particular plane was also used to recreate a flight from Britain to Australia in 1994, and from England to South Africa in 1999.

Steve Fossett

Mr. Fossett is a multi millionaire who earned his fortune in the American financial markets. He holds 15 world record passages in sailing — including the record for fastest circumnavigation of the world. He was the first person ever to fly a solo, non-stop, aerial circumnavigation of the globe in a jet aircraft. He has also swum the English Channel and driven the 24 hours of Le Mans.

The adventurer also holds the interesting distinction of holding more world records than anyone else — currently 62 world records.