Virgin Atlantic at Port Stanley Airport, and the time it would take to improve it, would render a route to the Falklands commercially unviable, thus the idea of such a service was dropped. In its place, Hellary and Fields commenced efforts to secure a licence to operate a route Gatwick Airport, London and John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City. During May 1983, a three-day inquiry was conducted, which chose to reject the application following objections from British Airways, British Caledonian and BAA. Hellary and Fields then applied for a licence between Gatwick and Newark, New Jersey, using a 380-seat McDonnell
Virgin Atlantic Challenge Trophy Atlantic Challenger's" record. The Virgin Atlantic Challenge Trophy is a three-foot silver sculpture, modelled on the Bishop Rock Lighthouse, chosen as the finishing line for many of the Blue Riband crossings, and of the successful 1986 voyage. The model depicts the lighthouse and the rock itself. Branson's first attempt on the record, in 65 ft twin-hull " Virgin Atlantic Challenger", departed New York in June 1985. After surviving rough weather and the threat of late icebergs "Challenger" was fatally damaged 100 miles from Bishops Rock, the intended finishing line, and sank in heavy seas. All the crew were saved. The