“1953 London to Christchurch air race”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

The 1953 London to Christchurch air race, the "Last Great Air Race", was {{convert|12300|mi|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.

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 {{convert|495|mph|km/h}}. The distance, by the route followed, was {{convert|12270|mi|km}} so that the actual speed was {{convert|515|mph}} (or {{convert|546|mph}} 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

Race section

Number

Pilot

Operator

Aircraft

Identity

Note

Wing Commander Hodges

540 Squadron Royal Air Force

Canberra PR7

WH773

Flight Lieutenant Furze

540 Squadron Royal Air Force

Canberra PR3

WE142

Third in race section

Flight Lieutenant Burton

540 Squadron Royal Air Force

Canberra PR3

WE139

Winner race section in 22 hours 25 minutes

Wing Commander Cumming

No. 1 Long Range Flight Royal Australian Air Force

Canberra B20

A84-202

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

Number

Pilot

Operator

Aircraft

Identity

Note

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

Wing Commander Watson

41 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force

Handley Page Hastings

NZ5804

Did not finish, withdrew in Ceylon with engine problems

Captain Baillie

British European Airways

Vickers Viscount

G-AMAV

Second in the Handicap section

In popular culture

Notes

1. ^{{cite web|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article610427.ece |title=Flight Lieutenant Don Gannon|work=The Sunday Times|accessdate=27 May 2011}}
2. ^{{cite web|title=Bride Flight|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1094241/releaseinfo|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=3 June 2011}}

External links

4 : Air races|1953 in London|1953 in New Zealand|1953 in aviation