<strong>100 years:</strong> June 15, 2019 marks the centenary of the first ever none-stop transatlantic flight. British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown took to the skies in Newfoundland and traveled to Ireland.
100 years: June 15, 2019 marks the centenary of the first ever none-stop transatlantic flight. British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown took to the skies in Newfoundland and traveled to Ireland.
Hulton Archive/Getty
<strong>Incredible journey:</strong> The two men embarked across the ocean on a Vickers-Vimy biplane powered by two Rolls-Royce Eagle engines, pictured here.
Incredible journey: The two men embarked across the ocean on a Vickers-Vimy biplane powered by two Rolls-Royce Eagle engines, pictured here.
Hulton Archive/Getty
<strong>Momentous occasion</strong>: It was an incredible moment in aviation: "The flight in 1919, that's only 16 years after first powered flight," says Peter Collins, heritage manager at Rolls Royce.
Momentous occasion: It was an incredible moment in aviation: "The flight in 1919, that's only 16 years after first powered flight," says Peter Collins, heritage manager at Rolls Royce.
Hulton Archive/Getty
<strong>Endurance</strong>: Collins says it's Alcock and Brown's stoicism that helped them power through: "They really pushed themselves, it's the endurance that was amazing -- they had very, very good material behind them to help them get across the Atlantic, but it was that endurance -- that 'Devil May Care' attitude."
Endurance: Collins says it's Alcock and Brown's stoicism that helped them power through: "They really pushed themselves, it's the endurance that was amazing -- they had very, very good material behind them to help them get across the Atlantic, but it was that endurance -- that 'Devil May Care' attitude."
Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
<strong>All alone: </strong>There was no air traffic control, no GPS: "When they went up on the flight, they were on their own -- trusting the engines and the airframes and that's it," says Collins.
All alone: There was no air traffic control, no GPS: "When they went up on the flight, they were on their own -- trusting the engines and the airframes and that's it," says Collins.
Courtesy Rolls Royce
<strong>Crash landing:</strong> Alcock and Brown departed from St. Johns in Newfoundland, Canada. 16 hours and 12 minutes later, they crash landed in a bog in Clifden, Connemara, Ireland.
Crash landing: Alcock and Brown departed from St. Johns in Newfoundland, Canada. 16 hours and 12 minutes later, they crash landed in a bog in Clifden, Connemara, Ireland.
Courtesy Rolls Royce
<strong>First sight</strong>: It wasn't the most graceful landing -- but it didn't matter, they'd reached the British Isles. "When they landed in Ireland, it was their first sight of landfall, because of course they use things like sextants and those sort of things," says Collins.
First sight: It wasn't the most graceful landing -- but it didn't matter, they'd reached the British Isles. "When they landed in Ireland, it was their first sight of landfall, because of course they use things like sextants and those sort of things," says Collins.
Courtesy Rolls Royce
<strong>Engine delivery: </strong>The Rolls Royce engine was delivered to St John's in a horse and cart -- a contrast of old and new.
Engine delivery: The Rolls Royce engine was delivered to St John's in a horse and cart -- a contrast of old and new.
Courtesy Rolls Royce
<strong>Reliable engine: </strong>The Eagle engines were seen as reliable: "At the time reliability was a very, very key thing because, again, these are very new technologies," says Collins.
Reliable engine: The Eagle engines were seen as reliable: "At the time reliability was a very, very key thing because, again, these are very new technologies," says Collins.
Courtesy Rolls Royce
<strong>Record breakers:</strong> When they returned to London, Alcock and Brown won a Daily Mail prize of £10,000 for achieving the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in less than 72 consecutive hours.
Record breakers: When they returned to London, Alcock and Brown won a Daily Mail prize of £10,000 for achieving the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in less than 72 consecutive hours.
Courtesy Rolls Royce
<strong>Sharing the winnings</strong>: The duo shared their prize money with the Rolls Royce engineers -- pictured here at the factory in Derby, England -- and the Vickers' engineers.
Sharing the winnings: The duo shared their prize money with the Rolls Royce engineers -- pictured here at the factory in Derby, England -- and the Vickers' engineers.
Courtesy Rolls Royce
<strong>New era:</strong> The First World War ended in 1918 -- and there were still Eagle engines in production, so the manufactures were really enthusiastic about the race: "There was no need to buy more planes and so they're instantly looking for an outlet for their products," says Collins.
New era: The First World War ended in 1918 -- and there were still Eagle engines in production, so the manufactures were really enthusiastic about the race: "There was no need to buy more planes and so they're instantly looking for an outlet for their products," says Collins.
Courtesy Rolls Royce
<strong>Here to stay</strong>: The success of the flight showed aviation was here to stay -- which was naturally important to Rolls Royce and the aircraft manufacturers. Pictured here: the Rolls Royce engines being made at the Derby, England factory.
Here to stay: The success of the flight showed aviation was here to stay -- which was naturally important to Rolls Royce and the aircraft manufacturers. Pictured here: the Rolls Royce engines being made at the Derby, England factory.
Courtesy Rolls Royce
<strong>Engineering marvel</strong>: Eric Platford, pictured, was the Rolls Royce engineer who traveled across the Atlantic to test the engine before it took flight.
Engineering marvel: Eric Platford, pictured, was the Rolls Royce engineer who traveled across the Atlantic to test the engine before it took flight.
Courtesy Rolls Royce
<strong>Grounded</strong>: Alcock and Brown landed in the bog and weren't able to move again -- they'd originally planned to head back to London.
Grounded: Alcock and Brown landed in the bog and weren't able to move again -- they'd originally planned to head back to London.
Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
<strong>Celebrating the future:</strong> Rolls Royce took out an advert in the media, celebrating the successful flight and championing the future of aviation.
Celebrating the future: Rolls Royce took out an advert in the media, celebrating the successful flight and championing the future of aviation.
Courtesy Rolls Royce
<strong>Intricate design</strong>: The Vickers-Vimy biplane design sketch, by technical artist Frank Munger.
Intricate design: The Vickers-Vimy biplane design sketch, by technical artist Frank Munger.
Courtesy Frank Munger/Rolls Royce
<strong>Transatlantic aviation</strong>: A century after the airplane took off, transatlantic aviation is the norm -- around 2,500 transatlantic flights soar through the skies daily.
Transatlantic aviation: A century after the airplane took off, transatlantic aviation is the norm -- around 2,500 transatlantic flights soar through the skies daily.
Courtesy Rolls Royce