Gift of july the 4th !

madgicsysteme (il y a 2337 jours)

SAAvenger (il y a 2337 jours)

frankymikey (il y a 2337 jours)

La-Chouette (il y a 2337 jours)

English? This is my time to shine! Let's talk about something interesting, then. Like dinosaurs! Dinosaurs are really interesting. Or androids. Those things are cool too. Maybe video games would be more appropriate here? Let's mix things up, what about video games with robot dinosaurs? Sounds like it would be cool. Or we could talk about ponies and unicorns, because I know how much people here appreciate those. Maybe even add some spooks to the whole thing with zombies? Which means the ultimate video game would be a game making you a robot dinosaur trying to stay safe from the zomponies. But zombies don't care about robots. That would probably be some kind of big plot twist in the middle of the game, shifting your dino's goals and their relationship with the other robots dinosaurs. We could also add butts. Everybody loves butts. Butts butts butts. Sounds funny, too. Butts. Butts. What was I doing here? Meh, probably nothing important. Let's just say "butts" some more. Butts butts. Butts.

ajcrou (il y a 2337 jours)

Hello,

Thank you very much, for this wonderful gift. Unfortunately, I don't know what to say about the Independance Day (except that the last movie is very bad, at least the first one was funny). And at the same time, I am unfortunately totally unable to make a good joke in franglais.

So, I propose in exclusivity the the beginning of an article (very short) that I will publish for September in a British magazine (AEROPLANE MONTHLY). I need to finish the full version of the article before the end of next week. Slightly anxious and stressed before sending it to the editor. So perfect to share this first (and incomplete) version. Still a lot of writing work and many mistakes in English to correct.

And I know, strictly nothing to do with the United States, but I wanted to share this first version.

**1920: 1920: 1920: London - Cape Town, first flight over the African continent.**

After the WWI, aware of the future of air transport, the new British Air Ministry is responsible for preparing the creation of several airways the to connect the Empire. For this purpose, several aerodromes are, notably created in Africa between Cairo and Cape Town.

At the end of 1919, the Times offered funding and the provision of the Vickers Vimy G-EAAV, in order to call for volunteers to connect England to Cape Town.

Two former aviators of RFC / RAF : Captains F.C. Broome and S. Coxkerell, take off on 24 January. The crossing of Europe is carried out without major problems and the aircraft reaches Cairo, on 3 February 1920.

The news provoked panic in Pretoria as the new prime minister, General Jan Smuts, promised himself that the first link to South Africa should not be made by the British, but by South Africans.

In emergency, the South African government buys its own Vickers Vimy (G-UABA "Silver Queen"), and chooses two pilots: Lieutnant-Colonel Pierre van Ryneveld and Flight Lieutenant Quintin Brand (initially in London for purchase aircrafts for the creation of the South African Air Force) to make this trip, despite the significant delay. Nevertheless, the Silver Queen can leave England only on 4 February.

The crew of the Times leaves Cairo quickly (6 February), but the aircraft suffers from many overheating problems requiring regular repairs. Finally, on 27 February, after the takeoff at Tabora (Tanzania), one of the engines stopped and the aircraft was totally destroyed.

At the same time, the South Africans aware of the important mission entrusted to them decide to rally Cairo at full speed, flying even at night. However, they can not arrive in Egypt until 9 February. Having already three days late, they decide to leave immediately at 23h30 (after only four hours break) towards Sudan. But, they must make a forced landing (following a prioblem to the left engine), along the Nile. Unfortunately, the plane hits several rocks and the fuselage is totally destroyed, the crew escaping miraculously.

Determined to succeed, the South African government allows the crew to make all necessary expenses to repair the aircraft. Two engines and various parts are immediately purchased from the RAF depot in Egypt, and the Silver Queen II can resume her journey from 26 February.

Taking no rest, the South Africans managed to reach Abercorn (in all 48 hours of flying), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), on 28 February at 14h45. However, a technical problem forces the aircraft to land at Ndola (Zambia), the next day at 12h45 where they are surprised by a violent storm. They are stuck until 5 March. They leave, on this date, towards Bulawayo on Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). A telegram is then sent to Pretoria indicating that they hope to cross the South African border within 24 hours.

For this purpose, the fuel tanks are filled to the maximum, despite some concerns considering a line of trees at the immediate end of the runway quickly arranged for the aicraft. On 6 March, during take-off, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude and hit the trees. The crew is not injured but the Silver Queen II is no longer serviceable. Note that Bulawayo is about 1500 meters above sea level.

Hearing that a new aircraft (with an English crew) is preparing to depart from England, the South African prime minister orders to find an available aircraft and send it to Bulawayo immedialty to complete the flight. Luckily, South Africa has just received the first cases containing planes bought in England to form the future air force of the country. Major Court-Treatt, new equipment officer, prepares in emergency one of the De Havilland DH-9. The task is quickly carried out, and on 15 March, the aircraft (with the symbol name of Voortrekker) take-off from Pretoria (Lieutenant Holthouse) and join Bulawayo after five hours of flight.

Finally, Lieutnant-Colonel Pierre van Ryneveld and Flight Lieutenant Quintin Brand leave (with the DH-9 Voortrekker) on 17 March, at 06h30 and finally reach Cape Town three days later.

*Two picture of the Vimy funded by the Times*

![description de l'image](https://i1.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1.jpg "titre de l'image")

![description de l'image](https://i2.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2.jpg "titre de l'image")

*The Silver Queen with Pierre van Ryneveld (left) and Quintin Brand (right). 4 February 1920*

![description de l'image](https://i0.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/3.jpg "titre de l'image")

*First aerial photo (Victoria Falls) from the Silver Queen II*

![description de l'image](https://i0.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/4.jpg "titre de l'image")

*Pierre van Ryneveld and Quintin Brand at Victoria Falls*

![description de l'image](https://i2.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/5.jpg "titre de l'image")

*The Silver Queen II at Bulawayo, 5 March 1920*

![description de l'image](https://i0.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/6.jpg "titre de l'image")

![description de l'image](https://i0.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/7.jpg "titre de l'image")

*Pierre van Ryneveld (standing) and Quintin Brand (sitting) in Bulawayo*

![description de l'image](https://i2.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/8.jpg "titre de l'image")

*The Silver Queen II, during his failed take off from Bulawayo, 6 March 1920*

![description de l'image](https://i0.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/9.jpg "titre de l'image")

![description de l'image](https://i0.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/10.jpg "titre de l'image")

*The DH-9 Voortrekker*

![description de l'image](https://i1.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/11.jpg "titre de l'image")

![description de l'image](https://i1.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/12.jpg "titre de l'image")

*Arrival in Cape Town. Pierre van Ryneveld (left) and Quintin Brand (right)*

![description de l'image](https://i2.wp.com/aviationaoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/13.jpg "titre de l'image")

Gift of july the 4th !

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madgicsysteme (il y a 2337 jours)

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SAAvenger

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Gift of july the 4th !

Créé par :

madgicsysteme (il y a 2337 jours)

SAAvenger (il y a 2337 jours)

frankymikey (il y a 2337 jours)

La-Chouette (il y a 2337 jours)

ajcrou (il y a 2337 jours)

pipoop (il y a 2336 jours)

jullebarge (il y a 2336 jours)

archer hawke (il y a 2336 jours)

archer hawke (il y a 2336 jours)

BenRicard (il y a 2336 jours)

Hyeud (il y a 2336 jours)

Orkestra (il y a 2335 jours)

McCauley (il y a 2335 jours)

pothi (il y a 2335 jours)

pothi (il y a 2335 jours)

SAAvenger (il y a 2334 jours)

machiavel24 (il y a 2334 jours)

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