We have good news for aviation fanatics. Especially if you like the vintage 1920s and 30s planes with the old equipment and the bumpy ride feel. This brainchild of Sam Rutherford has been a made a reality through his Prepare2Go team. This is a journey from Crete in Greece all the way to Cape Town, South Africa. As gruelling as it might be the participating teams will get a chance to be at some of Africa’s fine jewels like the Pyramids of Giza, the Gorongoro Crater, the magnificent island of Zanzibar and our own Victoria Falls.
The rally commenced on the 12th of November in Crete and on the 17th of December they will reach the finishing line which is Cape Town. Zimbabwe will have a chance to experience this historic rally when it comes to Victoria Falls and Bulawayo on the 8th and 10th of December respectively. The rally is a 20 team edition with 9 teams flying vintage panes over 37 stops in only 35 days. Over 17 countries are represented and we are proud because Zimbabwe is represented by Ron, flying a Cessna 210. We wish him luck.
The rally is being filmed from there air by two camera man who will be flying with the teams and they will go ahead to produce a 8 episode documentary that will be chronicling this feat that these brave pilots are trying to achieve. According to Mr Bruno Van den Bossche the Marketing Director of Inspiration Zimbabwe which is a local partner of the rally, all the vintage planes participating in this rally are well serviced and very safe.
If you live in the Hwange/ Matebeleland North area, don’t freak out when a couple of old airplanes fly past you. Smile, you just witnessed history being made. There are three prizes up for grabs when the teams reach Cape Town which are The Vintage Air Rally Trophy and the Spirit of the Rally Trophy which will be awarded to the team with the most exemplary this rally is also supporting charities. These are UNICEF, Bird life International which supports the protection of endangered vultures and Seed Bombing.
Fun Fact: President Ian Khama of Botswana requested that the rally passes through his country because he is an avid aviation fanatic. Therefore the teams will depart for Botswana after a short stay in Bulawayo.
Kirkpatrick Chidamba
