Transatlantic | England to Australia | London to Cape Town

London to Cape Town The Trip Educational Project Preparations Air BP Sponsors Silver Queen Political Tension in Africa Forces Vimy Crew to Postpone London to Cape Town Flight Munich First Major Step for Silver Queen Flight

Political Tension in Africa Forces Vimy Crew to Postpone London to Cape Town Flight 20-September-98 Kemble, UK: The Silver Queen flight of the Vickers Vimy replica from London to Cape Town has been postponed until Spring 1999. The flight was to have started from Brooklands, Surrey, UK on 30 September 1998. The aircraft was ready after a summer-long refit — including brand new BMW V12 engines — but the political situation in Africa has become too uncertain. "A week before the US bombed Khartoum, we had clearance from the Sudanese government to land, refuel and take off," said Mark Rebholz, pilot-in-command. However, the situation changed immediately following American retaliation for the terrorist acts committed against US subjects and property in Africa. "A British aircraft, crewed by Americans, is not welcome in certain parts of Africa right now," said one of the support crew. Spring 1999 is the next available weather window for the Silver Queen trip. Instead, the Silver Queen will embark on a period of promotional flights within the UK. It will visit several airfields during late September and early October. Currently, the Silver Queen is back at its Kemble base where it is undergoing further altitude tests. So far it has climbed to 9000 feet — several times higher than the old Vimy could manage — but for the London to Cape Town flight it needs to reach at least 12,000 feet. Weather conditions have so far prevented higher flights.

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