Lögberg-Heimskringla - 25.09.1992, Blaðsíða 10

10 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 25. september 1992
ICELAND’S FIRST AIRLINE:
Only a decade and a half passed
between the Wright Brothers’
pioneering flight in the U.S.
and the establishment of an airline in
Iceland. After monitoring closely the
developments which were taking place
in aviation and aircraft design, the
Icelanders soon realized the role that air
transportation could play in their coun-
try, where communications were partic-
ularly difficult at the time. Iceland’s first
airline, under the name Flugfélag
íslands, was founded in Reykjavík on
March 28,1919. A well-known Reyk-
javík businessman, Gardar Gíslason,
was elected chairman of the board, and
his fellow directors included Sveinn
Bjömsson, who was later to become the
first President of the Republic of Ice-
land. A number of the founders had sev-
eral years earlier established The
Iceland Steamship Company (Eimskip)
which played a major part in helping
Iceland to break out of centuries of iso-
lation.
The new airline immediately began
overtures for purchasing an aircraft. In
the spring of 1919 it bought a British-
made Avro-504, which was delivered in
parts in August that year. It was assem-
bled immediately upon arrival and made
its maiden flight from Reykjavík on
September 3, piloted by a Dane, Cecil
Faber. Over the following days, the air-
line sold sightseeing trips on the plane,
lasting for only a few minutes, and with
seating for only a single passenger it was
unable to meet the demand fully. Flights
ceased at the end of September and
began the next summer, with a Cana-
dian, Frank Fredrickson as pilot. He
was of Icelandic descent and was a well
known sportsman whose achievements
included winning an Olympic medal
with the Canadian ice hockey team in
1920. Flights were made when weather
permitted during the summer, most
often in the vicinity of Reykjavík. Yet
even though many people wanted to try
this new form of travel, the company’s
operations proved difficult. After its
directors failed in their attempts to find
more backing, they decided to cease
operations in the autumn of 1920 and
the aircraft was sold outside of Iceland.
There were no airline operations in
Iceland over the following years. The
people of Iceland, however, had tangi-
ble proof of the growth in air travel else-
where in the world, and in August 1924
the first transatlantic aircraft at Iceland,
part of an American round-the-world
expedition. Some time later, an Italian
seaplane also visited the country.
No airline was founded in Iceland
again until 1928, when a new company
was set up using the same name as its
predecessor, Flugfélag íslands. Its main
instigator and first board chairman was
Dr. Alexander Jóhannesson, Iater chan-
cellor of the University of Iceland, who
had become acquainted with air travel
while living in Germany. The new air-
line leased a Junkers F-13 from the
German state airline Luft-Hansa, a sea-
plane seating five passengers. Its maiden
flight was made on May 30, 1928, and
over the following days began regular
flights to a number of destinations in
Iceland, carrying passengers, cargo and
mail. During its first summer of opera-
tions, the plane landed at 25 different
places and carried 500 passengers. The
flights ceased that autumn but were
resumed the following spring, when
Flugfélag íslands leased a second plane
of the same type from Luft-Hansa.
Besides regular passenger services, the
aircraft took part in aerial surveys of
herring grounds in the summer, with
good results.
In 1930, Flugfélag íslands purchased
two Junkers F-13’s and maintained a
considerable level of operations in 1930
and 1931. Winter flights were also intro-
duced, even though conditions were far
SIGFUSSON'S
ROADS
By Svein Sigfusson
ti An unusually well written account of the adventurous rise of a
distinctively Canadian enterprise, and then a sad chronicle of its
destruction at the hands of government.
A little gem of a memoir that illuminates a fascinating chapter in the
history of northern enterprise.
By an Icelandic Canadian who stood 6'3", weighed 230 Ibs. and was a world class hammer and
discus thrower. 99 TORONTO STAR July 92
SIGFUSSON’S
ROADS
Western Icelandic Short Stories
Edited and translated by
Kirsten Wolf & Xrny Hjaltado'ttir
A collection of Icelandic immigrant writings, set
mainly in Canada and originally published in
Icelandic from 1890 - 1930. Comical, dramatic,
serious and satirical, the stories are translated here
for the first time. Twenty works by twelve authors,
including Stephan G. Stephansson. With biographi-
cal information and an historical introduction.
. A celebralion of traditional lcelandic values and
their solidarity in surviving in the new environment. "
Cost $29.95 Hard Cover • $14.95 Paper Back
Order from your bookstore or
Watson & Dwyer Publishing Co., 232 Academy Rd., Wpg., Man., Canada R3M 0E7
Celebrate the event where the land and peo-
ple join together - order the video documen-
tary of íslendingadagurinn ÍOO and
the visit of President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir
- An experience not to be missed
Order Now! $14.95 per tape
Published by the University of Manitoba Prcss 0-88755-628-0 $14.95 paperback
Available at your local bookstore

; j
m
The Girl Witli the
Botticelli Face
by
W. D. Valgardson

“.. .britiantty illuminates the bombed-out
terrain ofmodern lives and loves."
— Quill & Quire
“a seductively transparent prose styte, a
dead-on ear for dialogue, a real
understanding of the mechanics of fiction. ”
t— Quill & Quire
To order this novel
send $30.00
($25.00 plus $1.70 GST & 3.30 for mailing)
Make out cheque or money order to:
W. D. Vaigardson.
Send your order with payment to:
1908 Waterloo Road,
Victoria, B.C. V8P 1J3
Please indicate ifyou wish your copy
autographed.

To order please write to:
Icelandic Festival
of Manitoba,
Box 1871,
Gimli, Manitoba ROC ÍBO
Allow $3.00 for delivery & handling charges.
Islendmgadagurinn
Saga Islendingadagsins
A pictorial history book of the development
1890-1989 and growth of the celebrations
Text by Jonas Thor, photo research by Terry Tergesen.
$20.00
To order please wríte to:
Icelandic Festival
of Manitoba,
Box 1871,
Gimli, Manitoba ROC ÍBO
Allow $3.00 for delivery & handling charges.