Maiden flight of Douglas World Cruiser "Seattle II" 13 years in making,
takeoff from The Museum of Flight at Boeing Field

SEATTLE, Dec. 18, 2014--Dec. 20 is planned for the first flight of Seattle II, the only replica of the Seattle, one of four Douglas "World Cruiser" aircraft commissioned in 1924 by the U.S. Army to make the first aerial journey around the world. The ambitious project to build and fly a Seattle duplicate is the brainchild of Seattle-native Bob Dempster, and the undertaking has taken 13 years. Dempster plans to ultimately recreate the famous global flight made by the Douglas World Cruisers. Takeoff for the Seattle II is planned for noon (weather permitting), with former Boeing Company Senior Engineering Test Pilot Capt. Tom Imrich at the controls. Dempster will be riding as the enthusiastic passenger.

The Seattle World Cruiser Project
The goal of the Seattle World Cruiser Project has been to build and fly a reproduction of a 1924 Douglas World Cruiser in celebration of the first aerial leap around the planet. To accomplish this, team leader and pilot Bob Dempster assembled a unique staff of FAA-certified mechanics and inspectors, aircraft builders and designers from the commercial, experimental, and antique aircraft restoration fields. The Seattle II is the world's only DWC replica to fly. The aircraft is a faithful reproduction of original DWC design, with some modern improvements for safety and reliability. Dempster intends to donate the aircraft to The Museum of Flight.

The First Flight Around the World
Twenty years after the first airplane flight, one of the greatest undone challenges in aviation was the circumnavigation of the planet by air. The U.S. Army Air Service was determined to put all of its resources behind this project to make sure that Americans achieve the first flight around the world. It was a huge effort. Working with the Douglas Airplane Company of Santa Monica, Calif., the Army purchased five highly modified Navy torpedo bombers capable of flying on wheels or pontoons - a critical factor since the aircraft would switch between the two depending on which part of the world was covered - over land or along coastlines. One served as a prototype while the remaining four were expected to make the journey, each with a pilot and mechanic. Douglas dubbed the aircraft the Douglas World Cruiser (DWC). Sand Point, a small military airfield a few miles northeast of downtown Seattle, was chosen as the hub of the flight.

On April 6, 1924, the four DWCs - Seattle, Boston, Chicago and New Orleans departed Sand Point for Alaska and points west. Seattle only made it as far as Alaska, Boston later went down in the Atlantic on the home stretch. The prototype DWC was renamed Boston II, and it joined the surviving planes for the trip across the country to Sand Point, arriving on Sept. 28, 1924.

Museum of Flight News Releases
Access this and all other Museum of Flight news releases online at:
www.museumofflight.org/press/archives

###

The independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, attracting more than 500,000 visitors annually. The Museum's collection includes more than 160 historically significant air- and spacecraft, the original manufacturing facility of The Boeing Co., and the world's only full-scale NASA Space Shuttle Trainer. The Museum's aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 100,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum's on-site and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Association of Museums, and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $19 for adults, $16 for seniors 65 and older, $16 for active military, $11 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. McCormick & Schmick's Wings Café is on site. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org

Mike Bush
Director of Marketing
and Public Relations
253.307.3225
Ted Huetter
Public Relations
and Promotions Manager
206.455.5360