December 17 marks the anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first successful flight. In the United States, National Wright Brothers Day commemorates this momentous occasion in the history of aviation. As we give recognition to these pioneers, Wright Brothers Day is an opportunity to acknowledge how far air mobility has come and the heights to which it can still soar.
Join us in review of the history of aviation, how it shaped the Shannon region, and the evolving air mobility technologies that mark the next step in aviation.
Past
Wright Brothers Day commemorates what is regarded as the first successful sustained flight in a controllable and motor-operated aircraft. The first flight, taken by Orville Wright on December 17, 1903, lasted 12 seconds, covering a distance of 36 meters from 6 meters off the ground. Wilbur Wright achieved the best flight of the day, covering nearly 256 meters in 59 seconds. Despite their success, the brothers faced skepticism in the United States, so they sought a more receptive audience in Europe.
As aviation developed, the west of Ireland became a prominent leader in transatlantic air travel. The first successful transatlantic crossing by air, carried out in 1919 by John Alcock and Arthur Brown, saw the pilots land in a Clifden bog, drawing global attention to Ireland’s potential for aviation. Nearly a decade later, the first east-to-west transatlantic flight left from Baldonnel, with Irish aviation pioneer James Fitzmaurice on the three-man crew.
By the late 1930s, Foynes was a transatlantic travel hub. Its position on the west coast, calm location in a sheltered harbour, and connections to the rest of Ireland via rail made it an ideal travel point for flying boats. With air travel developments, Shannon airport emerged in the late 1940s as the gateway between Europe and North America. From that point on, all transatlantic passenger planes had to stop in Shannon.
Present
Although Shannon is no longer a necessary stop on the way in or out of Europe, it continues to play an important role in aviation. With the Shannon Campus industrial estate adjacent to the airport, the region invests heavily in maintaining and developing aviation technologies. It attracts both national and international air mobility companies thanks to its rich and storied experience in the industry, local expertise, and ideal location midway between North American and Asian customers.
The region takes pride in this mantel and celebrates its rich connection to aviation. Several museums showcase the intricate relationship between the development of aviation and the development of the Shannon region. Among these, the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum and the Shannon Aviation Museum retrace the history of aviation in the area, displaying stories, memorabilia, and even aircraft.
Future
Shannon’s continued investment in the aviation industry has allowed the region to maintain its title as an industry innovator. For instance, our Shannon-based company, Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI), has been leading the charge for developing advanced air mobility solutions in Ireland.
Last month, FMCI released findings of a study conducted with Electric Aviation Maven (EA Maven) on the potential for advanced air mobility (AAM) in Ireland. These results showed that integrating innovative electric air mobility solutions in urban and regional travel could significantly reduce carbon emissions, decrease travel times, and fuel the economy through time savings. Ireland’s size and climate make it an ideal environment for developing AAM.
To support this positive change, FMCI has plans to build a vertiport at Shannon Airport to enhance the potential for advanced air mobility in Ireland. This project paves the way for more sustainable air travel, namely electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs). We also host innovative air mobility companies at our facilities, fostering a collaborative ecosystem for AAM. For over 100 years, Shannon has been at the forefront of breaking developments in air mobility, and FMCI is carrying on the region’s legacy of aviation innovation.
From the Wright Brothers’ first flight to air taxis at FMCI, the aviation sector continues to reach new levels, making transportation smarter, safer, and more efficient.