No. 1 Long Range Flight RAAF

No. 1 Long Range Flight was a temporary Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) unit formed to participate in the 1953 London-to-Christchurch air race (also known as the Christchurch or Canterbury centenary air race). The flight was established in February 1953, and was equipped with three Canberra turbojet 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 AEST, and one of the flight's aircraft placed second, with a total elapsed time of 24 hours and 32 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.