A group of volunteers from Shannon Aerospace and Continental Airlines will be taking an aircraft from Limerick to Ennis the hard way tomorrow to raise money for charities.
The group expect theirs will be a 12-hour trip as they push a Cessna 150 craft while walking the 20 miles from the South Court Hotel, Limerick, to the West County Hotel, Ennis.
Mr Paddy Dervan, committee member of Pulling Together for Charity, said he hoped to raise £4,000 for the Clare branch of the MS Society of Ireland and Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. "Nobody has ever pushed an aircraft from Limerick to Ennis before," he said.
The aircraft, donated to the cause by a private owner, had a wheel attached to its tail and its wings clipped for the novel trip. "The law gave us a 10ft wing span," Mr Dervan said.
The aircraft was reconstructed by mechanics after being in a crash, was painted white and had the logos of companies sponsoring the event attached. The project was initiated three years ago after the committee heard about a Boeing 747 that FLS Aerospace workers pushed up a ramp at Dublin Airport.
Efforts to borrow an aircraft at Shannon to push around the airport failed.
Following tomorrow's event, which includes a social evening at the West County, the aircraft will be made available for other charity events.
Donations can be sent to Pulling Together for Charity, Ulster Bank, Shannon. Sort Code: 98-62-50. Account number: 85 84 81 89.
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Readers who wish to contact Eibhir Mulqueen can leave messages by dialling (01) 6707711, extension 6544, or email emulqueen@irish-times.ie