A Love Story for the Ages
Diana Isaac Village resident Maria has a love story for the ages, being flown on a ‘Bride Flight’ by her beloved Peter from their home country of the Netherlands to New Zealand as part of an international air race.
In 1953 a London to Christchurch challenge was organised. The reward for first place (in what was then the world’s longest air race – of 19,756 kilometres) was mainly glory but also a Harewood Gold Cup, named after Christchurch Airport’s operating name in the 1950s.
Competing airlines, amongst the eight airlines, included the Netherlands’ KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Douglas DC-6A, on which Maria travelled. There was also a BEA Vicker Viscount 700 and the RNZAF’s Hadley Page Hastings.
Click to read their full story.
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