The Last Great Air Race was 12,300 miles (19,800 km) long, from London to Christchurch and took place in 1953 after Christchurch took the decision to declare their airport as International in 1950.
The race was won by Flight Lieutenant Roland (Monty) Burton flying an English Electric Canberra, 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 winner of this race, a Vickers Viscount, but the victory of the Canberra has been less publicised, flying at an average speed of 495 miles per hour (797 km/h). The distance he followed by the route he 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 was Squadron Leader Peter Raw of No. 1 Long Range Flight RAAF in an Australian-built Canberra.
The film Bride Flight was released in 2008.[2]