The Last Start of the Liberty V-12

The Douglas World Cruiser replica 'Seattle II' sounds off for the last time before heading to its new museum home.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, June 14, 2024 at 09:37 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Kimberly Johnson

The 'Seattle II' is a reproduction of a Douglas World Cruiser. [Courtesy: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

Pilot Robert "Bob" Dempster and his wife Diane, with the help of numerous volunteers, spent over 20 years meticulously building a reproduction of a 1920s Douglas World Cruiser, named the Seattle II.
The Dempsters' initial goal to fly the Seattle II around the world in 2024, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the original DWC flight, was deemed unfeasible due to current geopolitical challenges.
The impressive biplane, powered by a 400 hp Liberty V-12 engine, has been donated to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, where Dempster hopes it will be displayed in the Great Gallery.
The article culminates with an emotional event where the Seattle II's engine was fired up for what is likely the last time before the aircraft heads to the museum, marking a bittersweet farewell for its creators and supporters.

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When something has been part of your life for more than 20 years, it can be hard to say goodbye, especially when that something is an airplane you lovingly built from the ground up.

Pilot Robert “Bob” Dempster and his aviatrix wife, Diane, know this only too well as the couple—with the help of several dozen volunteers—built a reproduction of a Douglas World Cruiser (DWC), the Seattle II. On Saturday they fired up the Liberty V-12 engine for what is likely the last time before the behemoth biplane heads to the Museum of Flight in Seattle.