America’s Cup challenger to depart for New Zealand from T.F. Green Airport

An America’s Cup contender took off from Rhode Island for New Zealand Monday, T.F. Green Airport officials said.

With a 75-foot hydrofoil racing sailboat in the back, a four-engine cargo jet departed T.F. Green a little after noon on its trip halfway around the world.

The boat belonged to Team American Magic, the New York Yacht Club’s entry in the 170-year-old America’s Cup sailing competition, which is set to take place next year in Auckland, New Zealand. The New York Yacht Club has a “clubhouse” in Newport, said airport spokesman John Goodman.

The cargo jet, which arrived Sunday afternoon, as a Soviet-designed Antonov An-124, one of the largest commercial cargo aircraft in the world.

Goodman said he did not know if it was the first An-124 to fly out of T.F.Green or the largest aircraft to use the airport.

From T.F. Green the Antonov flew to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, according to flightaware.com and was set to depart for Hawaii around 5 p.m. on its way to New Zealand.

panderson@providencejournal.com

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