Video showing Su001 clip from Sir John Sutton's film of his time at RAF Jever.   It starts with a shot of Brian Iles in front of his Miles M-18.
He is then seen checking the fuel and talking to Danny Daniels.   Next he is strapping in with John Sutton in the rear seat.   John films the takeoff, and some aeros over the airfield, and finally the landing - about 1956.   (83 secs/9 min 43 secs/1 min 24 secs/21 secs/10 secs)

Ken Senar has given me permission to use an extract from his book to describe this fantastic flight:

"It would be wrong of me to omit mention of the epic flight of Flt.Lt. Brian Iles and Fg.Off. Sandy Sanderson's in Brian's Miles M18, yellow, open cockpit, privately owned aircraft to Bulawayo, Rhodesia.   Sandy came from Rhodesia where his father was a clergyman.   He hadn't been home on leave for some considerable time.   When this came up in discussion with Brian the idea of flying there in Brian's aircraft was born.   Initially the idea seemed impossible but, after further consideration and much discussion, not only between themselves, but also with Sqn.Ldr. Allen, our CO, the possibility of making such a round trip began to seem more feasible.
In due course serious planning was done and RAF hierarchy approved the flight, in principle at least.   In the event the aircraft was modified to the extent of having an additional fuel tank fitted above the pilot's knees in the rear cockpit, as near as possible to the centre of gravity.   [Eric Pigdon did a lot of work in his spare time, to help Brian with this modification to the aircraft], To this were affixed an altimeter, compass, and ASI (air speed indicator).   Several air tests followed to make sure that all was workable and safe.   Maps were provided by the RAF, flight planning was done, and as far as was possible, flight plans filed.   They had no radio.   After some discussion with me, Brian bought an 8mm movie camera to record their trip.   I gave him some brief advice as to how best to use it.
The safe range of the M18 was little over 300 miles, so they had to resort to island hopping when crossing the Mediterranean.   Then in Africa their route was determined by the availability of airstrips which had refuelling facilities, some of them very primitive indeed.

Route of the M-18 Outbound from RAF Jever in North Germany to Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, (Now Zimbabwe).   (Thanks to Toby Iles and Microsoft Autoroute.)
Against each stop is the date and time of leaving and the duration of the flight to the next stop.

The whole trip obviously took a great deal of planning. Here is a copy of one of the first letters that Toby Iles, Brian's son, has sent us showing his application to the French authorities for permission to overfly some of their territories:

As late as the 6th June 1954, as the final route was settled, Brian sent out several letters seeking permission to stage through various countries. Her is a copy of his letter to the Libyan authorities:

And the reply from the provincial authorities in Libya 8 days later:

Another letter with particular queries about re-fuelling facilities:

And in another 2 days the following reply from the to this letter from the Libyan Government:

Here is his letter to the Greek authorities for the flights through Athens and Crete:

13 days later the following permission was received from the Greek authorities:

He received the above permission from the Sudan Authorities enclosing the following list of Safety Signals for the desert:

Brian wrote the following chasing letter to the Egyptian authorities on 26th June 1954:

And duly received the following permission on the 6th July 1954:

Presumably Brian took advice from the manufacturers of the de Havilland Major III engine and here is a copy of their costed advice on what spares to carry for the engine.   A total at today's prices of £211.66.   I do not know whether he carried all these recommended spares.   Click on any of the areas shaded light green and it will jump to a valuation of the amount at Sep2009 prices.

Finally, Brian was equipped with a "Goolie chit" from the Station Commander, Gp Capt Powell-Sheddon.   It is interesting that the myth that he spelt the Powell part of his name with one "L" is not true as his own signature shows the correct spelling.

(Click to go on to next part.)