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San Diego, Calif. – March 24, 2006 – Ted Gildred, and his sons, Ted and Stephen, departed this morning on a goodwill flight to recreate a flight his father made way back in 193l.
You can follow their progress and even ask questions of the crew via E-mail.
Ecuador III Flight
The original flight was made in 1931 by aviator Theodore Gildred, Sr. On March 13 Gildred took off from San Diego, California, in a Ryan B-5 Brougham named the Ecuador, beginning a 4,200-mile flight known as the “Spirit of Goodwill.” The flight left from San Diego and continued on to South America. At 10:52 a.m. on March 31, 1931, after 18-days and 13 stops enroute from San Diego, the Ecuador arrived in Quito (pronounced Kee-toe).
Fifty years later – on March 13, 1981 – Theodore “Ted” Gildred, II took off from Lindbergh Field (that’s the main airport in San Diego) to recreate his father's famous flight, this time flying a 1942 Stinson Reliant (similar to this one). This airplane was called the Ecuador II and it landed at precisely 10:52 a.m. on March 31, 1981 at what is now Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito.
Now, on the 75th Anniversary of the flight. This time, Ted and his sons will make the anniversary flight in a modern Pilatus PC-12.
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HEADED FOR HISTORY: [L to R] Pilots Brian Shaul, Ted Gildred III, Ambassador Theodore Gildred, Stephen Gildred, and Eric Corpataux stand before one of the team's two Pilatus PC-12s on the eve of departure for their 75th anniversary flight to Quito, Ecuador.
Theodore Gildred, Sr. who flew the first “Spirit of Goodwill” flight in 1931 between San Diego, Calif., and Quito, Ecuador.
A Pilatus PC-12, similar to the one the Gildreds will use to recreate the 1931 flight between San Diego and Quito, Ecuador.
For More Information:
Ecuador III Web Site
Pilatus Aircraft
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