Whilst reading our local paper the Southend Evening Echo for September 6th I came across an article about a Cirencester man who has just broken Alex’s England to South Africa round trip record from 1939.
He is an former RAF pilot named Steve Noujaim and he completed the trip from Southend airport to Cape Town in three days, eleven hours and 15 minutes, nearly a day off of the record.
He did it in a RV-7 that he built himself, and was welcomed back to UK airspace by two friends flying Spitfires.
I was wondering which Spits they were as I havent been able to find any further info on this (quite a bit on the reverse journey broken earlier in 2009 though) and the photo in the paper only has one seen in a head on shot in the background which looks like a Mk IX.
Anyone have any info ?
By: Black Knight - 26th September 2010 at 21:57
He was also Paul Morgans pilot displaying the P-51 & Sea Fury. I was on the process of arranging a ride with him when Paul was tragically lost in it. Think he flies with Delta Jets & Ultimate High, very nice approachable fella!
By: davski - 26th September 2010 at 21:32
Hi Steve,
He flew from Breighton to Orkney right up the east coast, Northumbria (round about your neck of the wood!), Firth of Forth, Aberdeen… then the route south was a straight line from JO’G to LE, diagonal across the country, clipping South Wales (which is where we lost him on the tracker – minor panic!), over Lands End then back up to Yorkshire. Following him on the tracker is a bit like watching football on Ceefax – but surprisingly compulsive!
Dav’
By: Arabella-Cox - 26th September 2010 at 20:06
I saw him flying North! I heard the plane, looked up, and thought the colour scheme looked familiar!
By: davski - 26th September 2010 at 19:48
Taff Smith is due to launch his bid in about three weeks time. He tested the Glasair in its Cape configuration from John O’Groats to Lands End yesterday and completed in 2 hours 38 minutes with an average speed of 205.09kts (235.85mph). Only problem encountered (after taking into account the naff weather and failure of the sat tracker two thirds through) was, after being strapped into the cockpit for the better part of a day, he had to divert to Rufforth due to unfavourable crosswind at Breighton!
By: --o-o-O-o-o-- - 24th September 2010 at 19:03
G-ORDY
The website details the very sophisticated avionics fit he has on board, which undoubtedly aided the record attempt.
That said, ATC were sometimes a hindrance to the flight (esp France and Spain, by all accounts) and Henshaw probably didn’t have to worry too much about controlled airspace, certification standards and overflight permissions!
I was at Southend when Steve arrived and one of the first things he said after stepping out of the aeroplane is how much the trip had highlighted to him what a phenomenal achievement Henshaw’s was with such limited resources and at such a young age.
Steve’s flight was, in some respects, an entirely different adventure to Henshaw’s but so much has changed in 70 years and it’s an amazing achievement nevertheless.
By: G-ORDY - 24th September 2010 at 18:48
I wonder if they had GPS, auto-pilot, radio and the benefit of modern airports and airspace.
Alex didn’t.
By: AnyBalloons? - 24th September 2010 at 09:37
…. I’m sure he was a Phantom jockey when I was an AATC at Wattisham in 1989-1990.:)
Yep, he flew the F4-J with 74(F) Sqn.
By: Septic - 23rd September 2010 at 21:52
He also used to Fly with the Old Flying Machine Company.
Septic.
By: Ewan Hoozarmy - 23rd September 2010 at 19:39
I could be wrong but I’m sure he was a Phantom jockey when I was an AATC at Wattisham in 1989-1990.
The very same…….
By: Radpoe Meteor - 23rd September 2010 at 19:17
Steve Noujaim……that rings a bell. I could be wrong but I’m sure he was a Phantom jockey when I was an AATC at Wattisham in 1989-1990.:)
By: Old Fart - 18th September 2010 at 20:31
Starting and finishing at Southend again,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJmHX1SzGCc
A video that is currently on You Tube of Steve completing his flight including the Spitfires and other aircraft on the ground for his return.
By: --o-o-O-o-o-- - 18th September 2010 at 18:50
South African Chalkie Stobbart did it (albeit the other way round) in May 2009. He knocked a day off Henshaw’s record. Steve Noujaim knocked a further 3 hours off that, claiming it back for the UK ‘Taff’ Smith of Breighton fame is also about to try. www.capechallenge.com and www.thecaperun.co.uk
By: Bruce - 18th September 2010 at 18:42
Wasnt there another guy who did the Cape run last year?
All those years, and suddenly its fashionable!
Bruce
By: Mark12 - 18th September 2010 at 15:01
Something to do with this shot I’ll wager. 🙂
Mark
Image courtsey of the command pilot of SM520 – Matt Jones.
By: --o-o-O-o-o-- - 18th September 2010 at 14:44
The other one was MH434. The BBC (albeit in Gloucestershire) covered it
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/gloucestershire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8976000/8976618.stm
By: David_Kavangh - 18th September 2010 at 14:30
More to the point, why did nobody in the main media, newspapers, BBC etc. pick up on this story? Unlike Alex’s return in 1939. Or is it now just too simple to fly to SA or anywhere in the world now.
I’d been led to believe that this record would probably never be broken.
Just ignoring this seems a shame really.
By: Mark V - 18th September 2010 at 14:26
One of them was SM520.
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September 18, 2010 at 1:15 pm