Crossing the Atlantic in a flying boat – one of the last great aviation adventures

How five aviation legends made history with a vintage Sikorsky S-38 – and why their journey continued years later at Lake Wolfgang.

Somewhere over Greenland.

Heavy clouds hang above the flying boat, while mist rises from the icy fjords below. Between them lies only a narrow strip of clear sky – barely wide enough for a machine whose design dates back to an era when aviation was still a pioneering endeavor. The Sikorsky S-38 glides through the gray light about 200 feet above the water. Steep rock faces tower on both sides. There is no weather radar. No autopilot. No digital navigation.

Just a magnetic compass. Four pairs of attentive eyes. And the confidence born of decades of flight experience.

It is precisely these moments that turn a flight into a story.

An idea no one thought possible

Years earlier, when Tom Schrade and Frank Franke were sitting together at a fly-in hosted by aviation patron Barron Hilton, an idea emerged that initially sounded more like a bold fantasy: crossing the Atlantic in a vintage flying boat – from Florida to Frankfurt.

Not in a modern business jet. Not with current avionics.

But in a Sikorsky S-38.

Many considered the plan romantic. Others simply thought it impossible. Some experts even doubted that the flying boat would ever reach Greenland. But for the crew, such doubts were more of a motivation than an obstacle.

In the summer of 2010, the idea became reality. The transatlantic crossing was also dedicated to the children's charity Wings of Hope, for which this extraordinary journey was intended to raise awareness.

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A flying legend

The Sikorsky S-38 is one of the most famous flying boats in aviation history. When Igor Sikorsky developed it in the late 1920s, it opened up entirely new possibilities for expeditions into regions that were virtually inaccessible by land.

It was this very aircraft that Martin and Osa Johnson used to explore Africa from the air. Their legendary zebra-striped "Osa's Ark" became world-famous.

The aircraft Tom Schrade used to cross the Atlantic features the same paint scheme. It is the world’s only airworthy replica of an S-38, built using numerous original parts—a flying tribute to the golden age of exploration.

Even Hollywood was captivated by it. In the opening scenes of The Aviator none other than Tom Schrade himself is at the controls of the historic aircraft.

Five legends on board

Five men, one flying boat, one ocean. The crew was as extraordinary as the aircraft: Tom J. Schrade, pilot, owner, and Living Legends of Aviation consultant; Dr. Ulf Merbold, the first West German in space; Frank Franke, president of Wings of Hope and chronicler of the journey; Bruno Gantenbrink, multiple-time world gliding champion and one of Europe’s most renowned pilots; and Tom Enders, the long-time Airbus CEO who completed the crew. All of them (with Bruno Gantenbrink currently pending confirmation) will be traveling to Lake Wolfgang again this year for the scalaria Living Legends of Aviation gala.
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As the fjord grew narrower

The flight from Iqaluit, Canada, to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, started off calmly. But soon, a low-hanging cloud layer forced the crew to 7,000 feet, where they flew blind through the clouds for nearly an hour. It was only during the descent that the view opened up to reveal a long fjord, which Tom Schrade and Bruno Gantenbrink followed in the Sikorsky S-38.

Visibility worsened with every kilometer. The cloud ceiling dropped lower, fog rolled over the water, and suddenly, a massive dredger emerged from the mist—a surreal sight in the middle of the Arctic wilderness. When Frank Franke suggested landing as a precaution, the crew initially decided to press on. It was only a few minutes later that Bruno Gantenbrink was also convinced that landing would be the better choice. But as long as the water remained visible, they dared to continue—and succeeded. Shortly after, the Sikorsky reached Kangerlussuaq safely.

At the airfield, the historic flying boat eventually parked next to a modern Canadian Air Force business jet. When Frank Franke explained that the journey was intended to end in Frankfurt, a Canadian pilot responded with nothing but an incredulous laugh: "In that old crate? You'll never make it." A few days later, the crew proved otherwise and made aviation history.

"You'll never make it in that old crate," one of the Canadian pilots had called out to the crew.

A few days later, the Sikorsky S-38 touched down on Runway 25 at Frankfurt Airport—slow, majestic, and right in the middle of the hectic jet traffic. The historic flying boat had conquered the Atlantic, proving that pioneering spirit, experience, and trust are sometimes stronger than the most modern technology.

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From the Atlantic to Lake Wolfgang

But the story of the zebra-striped Sikorsky didn't end there. Its travels took it across Africa, the Middle East, and large parts of Europe—and eventually to Lake Wolfgang. As part of the scalaria Air Challenge 2012 the legendary flying boat landed directly in front of the scalaria, thrilling thousands of spectators.

Today, the world's only airworthy replica of a Sikorsky S-38 belongs to the famous Fantasy of Flightcollection in Florida and is still flying today. Its story, however, lives on not just through the aircraft itself, but above all through the people who had the courage to push boundaries. This is precisely the pioneering spirit celebrated by the Living Legends of Aviation – and it is exactly why many of these extraordinary individuals return to Lake Wolfgang year after year.

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On September 5, 2026, the living legends will meet again – when the scalaria Living Legends of Aviation Europe Awards are presented at the scalaria DO-X teatro, keeping stories like these and the pioneering spirit of aviation alive.

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Be Part of the Award Gala

Exclusive table packages and sponsor tickets are available for the award gala for companies, partners, and guests – for all information and inquiries, please visit scalaria.com/living-legends-of-aviation.

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