1953 London to Christchurch air race

The winner of the race was WE139 a Royal Air Force English Electric Canberra piloted by Flight Lieutenant Burton, now on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London

The 1953 London to Christchurch air race, the "Last Great Air Race", was 12,300 miles (19,800 km) long, from London Heathrow to Christchurch International Airport in New Zealand and took place in October 1953 after Christchurch took the decision to declare their airport as International in 1950.

Race description

The race was divided into an outright speed section and a section for commercial transport aircraft types.

KLMs Douglas DC-6A was competitor No. 21 in the race to Christchurch and carried a group of emigrants. It was displayed at London Heathrow before departure for New Zealand.

The speed section was won by a Royal Air Force English Electric Canberra PR.3 flown by Flight Lieutenant Roland (Monty) Burton and navigated by Flight Lieutenant Don Gannon. The plane touched down at Christchurch Airport 41 minutes ahead of its closest rival — after 23hr 51min in the air including 83 minutes on the ground; to this day the record has never been broken.^[1]

There have been many films made about the commercial section of this race: a Vickers Viscount which finished first, followed by a Douglas DC-6A of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines which was declared the winner on handicap. A Royal New Zealand Air Force Handley Page Hastings also took part. The victory of the Canberra has been less publicised, flying at an average speed of 495 miles per hour (797 km/h). The distance, by the route followed, was 12,270 miles (19,750 km) so that the actual speed was 515 miles per hour (829 km/h) (or 546 miles per hour (879 km/h) including immediate stops).

Second in the speed section was Squadron Leader Peter Raw of No. 1 Long Range Flight RAAF in an Australian-built Canberra.

Competitors

Wing Commander Cumming's Canberra B20 "4"

Race section

Number	Pilot	Operator	Aircraft	Identity	Note
1	Wing Commander Hodges	540 Squadron Royal Air Force	Canberra PR7	WH773
2	Flight Lieutenant Furze	540 Squadron Royal Air Force	Canberra PR3	WE142	Third in race section
3	Flight Lieutenant Burton	540 Squadron Royal Air Force	Canberra PR3	WE139	Winner race section in 22 hours 25 minutes
4	Wing Commander Cumming	No. 1 Long Range Flight Royal Australian Air Force	Canberra B20	A84-202
5	Squadron Leader Raw	No. 1 Long Range Flight Royal Australian Air Force	Canberra B20	A84-201	Second in race section in 22 hours 29 minutes

Handicap section

Departure of the KLM DC-6, winner of the handicap section (1953)

Number	Pilot	Operator	Aircraft	Identity	Note
21	Captain Kooper	KLM	Douglas DC-6B	PH-TGA	Winner of £10,000 prize in the Handicap section with a handicap time of 44 hours 29 minutes and 31 seconds
22	Wing Commander Watson	41 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force	Handley Page Hastings	NZ5804	Did not finish, withdrew in Ceylon with engine problems
23	Captain Baillie	British European Airways	Vickers Viscount	G-AMAV	Second in the Handicap section

In popular culture

The film Bride Flight was released in 2008.^[2]

Notes

1. "Flight Lieutenant Don Gannon". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
2. "Bride Flight". IMDb. Retrieved 3 June 2011.

External links

• British Pathe LONDON CHRISTCHURCH AIR RACE
• British Pathe 12.000 MILE AIR RACE