The first aircraft to leave Heathrow was KLM’s Douglas DC-6A, destined to win the Transport Handicap section and flown by Capt Henry A. A. Kooper. PH-TGA bore race number 21.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-6 / C-118 Liftmaster - СШАUSA - 1946

Line-up of competitors at Heathrow on October 8, 1953, showing the five Canberras, Hastings, DC-6A and Viscount.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-6 / C-118 Liftmaster - СШАUSA - 1946English Electric / BAE Canberra - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949Handley Page Hastings / H.P.67 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1946Vickers Viscount - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948

The RAAF Canberra Mk 20 A84-201, flown by Sqn Ldr P. Raw, starting up at Heathrow.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: English Electric / BAE Canberra - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949

The victors. Flt Lt Burton (pilot) and navigator Flt Lt Gannon on their return to Heathrow. Their elapsed time to Christchurch was 23hr 51 min, at an average speed of 515 m.p.h.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: English Electric / BAE Canberra - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949

Pre-race photograph of the race winner, Canberra PR.3 WE139. To prepare for the race a Canberra Air Race Flight was formed at RAF Wyton under the command of Wg Cdr L. M. Hodges.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: English Electric / BAE Canberra - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949

RAF Canberra PR.7 WH773 starts up at Heathrow. Flown by Wg Cdr Hodges, WH773 landed at Christchurch 35hr 25min after taking off from London and was placed fourth. Generator trouble and a damaged filler-cap lost valuable time at Perth.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: English Electric / BAE Canberra - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949

The BEA Viscount team, with John Profumo and Peter Masefield far right. Raymond Baxter can be seen by the G of the registration letters.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Viscount - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948

BEA entered Viscount V.700 prototype G-AMAV in the Transport Handicap section of the race.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Viscount - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948

Team leader Peter (now Sir Peter) Masefield taking delivery of a film trailer for Conquest of Everest from Everest conqueror Sir Edmund Hillary.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Viscount - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948

The second Valiant, WB215, which was first flown on April 11, 1952, at Wisley, two months after the first aircraft was lost through fire in one of the engines
Entered but not flown in the race was Valiant B.I WB215, the second prototype. Pilot Brian Trubshaw planned to fly the route in three stages, London-Karachi, Karachi-Cocos Islands and then to Christchurch, a total distance of 12,376 statute miles.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Valiant - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1951

HRH The Duke of Gloucester flags off RNZAF Hastings NZ5804 from Heathrow at 1635hr, 5min after the DC-6A, on October 8, 1953.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Handley Page Hastings / H.P.67 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1946

Although entered for the race, Mosquito Mk 41 VH-KLG, flown by Sqn Ldr A. J. R. Oates DFC, ran out of fuel and put down on the Burma coast while flying to England to take part. It is pictured here in the Cocos islands.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Mosquito PR - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941