The M.G. Owners Club (MGOC) visit to the Oakland Aviation Museum February 26, 2022.

“Drivers, start your engines!”

We departed following Bob, in his white 1970 MGB, with George as his co-pilot & our navigator.

On very busy I 80 with our little autos. This photo, “Drivers, start your engines!” & my portrait are by Joe, my co-pilot. Naomi was not interested in being in the MGA for a long slog on I 80. Love doth have its limits...

We were greeted by our hosts, Amy & Kirk, who guided us to locations next to vintage airplanes. Below the Short Solent Mark III Flying Boat "City of Cardiff", is our hosts' MG Magnette.

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The museum informed us of many stories related to the history of the airport. For instance, in 1927 Oakland Municipal Airport was the newest & most advanced air field in the nation. That year, the air field was christened by the first transpacific flight, from continental U.S.A. to Hawai'i. That flight opened the way for commericial aviation service to Hawai'i, the Pacific & the Far East.

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As a boy, I used to draw Migs fighting US fighter planes.

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The N. American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft. The plane was famously used by the Tuskegee airmen.

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This Short Solent Mark III Flying Boat NJ203 or Seaford, an upgraded version of the Sunderland long-range reconnaissance flying boat, was designed for use in the Pacific. With the surrender of Japan in 1945, the Seaford's were no longer needed for military service. It was eventually leased to British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).

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In March of 1949, NJ203 was registered to BOAC & named City of Cardiff and on May 17, initiated service on the 4 ½ day flight between Southampton, England & Johannesburg, South Africa.The route was flown during daylight hours only, with overnight stops at Augusta, Sicily,Luxor, Egypt (anchoring in the Nile River), Lake Victoria, the Congo and Victoria Falls, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The final stop for the Solent was on the Vaal River near Johannesburg. The entire trip was 5,600 miles & the cost per passenger was 295 pounds sterling or approximately $1,400 USD.