A brief history the first England to South Africa flight
19.01.2025
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On 4 February 1920, Lieutenant Colonel (later General) Pierre van Ryneveld and Major (later Air vice Marshal) Quintin Brand left Brooklands in the UK in a Vickers Vimy G-UABA named Silver Queen in an attempt to make the first England to South Africa flight.
They landed safely at Heliopolis, but as they continued the flight to Wadi Halfa, they were forced to land due to engine overheating with 80 miles (130 km) still to go.
A second Vimy was lent to the pair by the RAF at Heliopolis in Egypt (and named Silver Queen II). This second aircraft continued to Bulawayo in Southern Rhodesia where it was badly damaged when it failed to take off.
Van Ryneveld and Brand then used a South African Air Force Airco DH.9 to continue the journey to Cape Town. The South African government awarded them £5,000 each.
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