Shebeen Posted September 7, 2017 Share In case anyone ever wondered about the very first flight from Europe to South Africa.....it was rather eventful. We sure have come a long way in just a hundred years. Here's the story and a picture of the plane: Flight to the Cape (1920)Early in 1920 the British Air Ministry declared the "Cape to Cairo" air route, which provided for 24 aerodrome and 19 emergency landing strips, fit for use. The London Times announce that it would finance the first flight to the Cape and its aircraft - a Vickers Vimy Commercial, G-EAAV- took to the air on 24 January 1920.General J.C. Smuts however wanted South African aviators to be the first to complete the trip. He therefore authorised the purchase of a Vickers Vimy at a cost of 4 500 pounds. Christened the Silver Queen, and commanded by Lt Col H.A. (Pierre) van Ryneveld with Fit Lt Quinton Brand as co-pilot, the aircraft took off from Brooklands (England) on February 1920. After an eventful night crossing of the Mediterranean, they arrived at Derna the following morning. Further night flying following in an attempt to catch the Vickers Vimy sponsored by the London Times, but the Silver Queen was wrecked in a force landing at Korosko, Sudan.Another Vimy F8615 was purchased from the RAF at Heliopolis into which the original engines were installed. The Silver Queen II (as the second aircraft was named) left Cairo on 22 February. Five days later the Times contender was destroyed in a crash at Tabora, but on 6 March the same fate befell the Silver Queen II at Bulawayo.Fortunately, with some of the Imperial Gift aircraft already in Pretoria, a DH9 H5646 called Voortrekker was assembled and flown to Bulawayo. Thus Van Ryneveld and Brand were able to complete their flight to the Cape where the arrived on 20 March 1920 after a total flying time of 109 hours and 30 minutes.third time lucky?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shebeen Posted September 7, 2017 Share https://twitter.com/AwardsDarwin/status/905491352913412096 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruity Posted September 7, 2017 Share Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Hairy and Ed-Zulu 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shebeen Posted September 7, 2017 Share some good stuff on this twitter feed! https://twitter.com/AwardsDarwin/status/904993858341269504 Hairy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allrounder Posted September 7, 2017 Share ^^ very true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allrounder Posted September 7, 2017 Share strange how we have one of the worst droughts in history, and other places have the most rain in history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Readsalot Posted September 7, 2017 Share Cheating = bad. https://twitter.com/AwardsDarwin/status/905526476006727682 Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk Hmmm, why isn't the video showing? https://twitter.com/AwardsDarwin/status/905526476006727682 Edit. Ah, now it's showing for some reason. Edited September 7, 2017 by Readsalot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowbee Posted September 7, 2017 Share Interesting views on the way of the future. Also some interesting insights on what a USB stick can do DJR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted September 7, 2017 Share https://twitter.com/AwardsDarwin/status/902165760319115265 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddy Gordo Posted September 7, 2017 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddy Gordo Posted September 7, 2017 Share Long Wheel Base and Lurch the stalker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddy Gordo Posted September 7, 2017 Share http://forums.mtbr.com/attachments/colorado-front-range/725536d1348272545-friday-bike-meme-thread-seesaw-bike_o_1698.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddy Gordo Posted September 7, 2017 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stefmeister Posted September 7, 2017 Share DJR, Fruity, Bateleur1 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bateleur1 Posted September 7, 2017 Share Would not surprise me if they do broadcast stuff like that for real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddy Gordo Posted September 7, 2017 Share http://forums.mtbr.com/attachments/colorado-front-range/726179d1348516309-friday-bike-meme-thread-tumblr_llla0ma8pk1qir1uto1_500.jpg Long Wheel Base, Lurch the stalker and deanbean 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now