No. 1 Long Range Flight RAAF

No. 1 Long Range Flight RAAF
A No. 1 Long Range Flight Canberra at Colombo International Airport, Ratmalana in Ceylon during the London-to-Christchurch air race
Active	February–November 1953
Country	Australia
Branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Commanders
Notable commanders	Peter Raw Derek Cuming
Aircraft flown
Bomber	Canberra

No. 1 Long Range Flight was a temporary Royal Australian Air Force unit formed to participate in the 1953 London-to-Christchurch air race (also known as the Christchurch Centenary air race). The flight was established in February 1953 and was equipped with three Canberra bombers, specially modified between June and August. Following extensive training, two Canberras departed for the UK in mid-September. The race began on 9 October, and one of the flight's aircraft placed second, with a total flying time of 22 hours and 29 minutes. The other aircraft was forced out of the race when one of its tyres burst while landing at Cocos Island to refuel, but completed its flight to Christchurch after being repaired. After a brief period in New Zealand both aircraft returned to Australia to be modified back to a standard configuration, and the flight was disbanded in November.