During the early 1920s, the challenge of flying around the world was as daunting and exciting as the space race to the Moon in the 1960s. On April 6, 1924, the first successful mission to circumnavigate the globe took off from Seattle. It was a mammoth American military operation that lasted five months with elite crews and four specially designed airplanes (one named Seattle) that created a sensation wherever they went. Boeing Corporate Historian Mike Lombardi kicks off the centennial celebrations with an overview of the historic flight on April 6 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The programs are free with Museum membership and included with general admission.
Lombardi will also look into Seattle’s connections to the mission and even later global adventures. In September the Museum partners with First World Flight Centennial and Friends of Magnuson Park for a four-day celebration of the world flight at both the Museum and at Magnuson Park.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
Follow the epic 175-day journey, Seattle to Seattle, with one post a day on our @firstworldflightcentennial instagram account, featuring images, footage, newspaper clippings, diary entries, artifacts and more!
And celebrate the 100th anniversary of their landing at Sand Point, Seattle on September 28th 🙂 More at firstworldflightcentennial.org