The Vimy project was organized in 1993 by Peter McMillan and Lang Kidby to build a flying replica of the 1919 Vickers Vimy and relive its historic flights across the globe. This Vimy has flown nearly 40,000 miles (64,000 kilometers) at this point, touching down in 35 countries, reminding all who see her of the bravery, proficiency, and self-reliance demonstrated by the pioneers of aviation. This machine has truly become the "Galleon of the Skies," as she was known in 1919. The project has been driven entirely through volunteer enthusiasm with the critical assistance of corporate and media partners including the National Geographic Society.

The Vimy stopped in Toronto from May 25 till June 1, 2005. The aircraft was on its way to St. Johns, Newfoundland in order to recreate the first nonstop transatlantic flight by Alcock and Brown in 1919, between St. John's, Newfoundland and Clifden, Ireland. Their flight from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada to Clifden, Ireland in the open cockpit Vickers Vimy replica took 18 hours 25 minutes with 13 hours flown in instrument flight conditions. Because there was no airport in Clifden, Fossett and Rebholz landed on the 8th fairway of the Connemarra Golf Course.


More information on this aircraft can be found at http://www.vimy.org/ and at http://www.vimy.org/VimyTripleCrown/vimyatlantic/index.html