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London. They could be addressed to any part of the world – for the Union the postage
was a halfpenny with an additional penny for foreign destinations. For the event the

Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, Sir David Graaff, had especially sanctioned the
conveyance of mail by air.

The official opening of the “Fortnight” was delayed by a day, owing to dangerous flying
conditions, and took place instead at 4.30 p.m. on Friday 22 December. In his opening

address Sir Frederick Smith, President of the Cape Peninsula Publicity Association and

also Mayor of Cape Town, noted that the event introduced a new epoch in
communications in South Africa, as aviation had been scarcely tried here. He reviewed

the rapid advances made in aviation since Bleriot’s crossing of the Channel a few years
previously: speeds had risen from fifteen to fifty miles per hour, altitudes of nearly

14,000 feet had been reached, travel times taken by train and boat were being slashed by

planes, and safe passenger-carrying had commenced. Aviation was no longer an
experimental activity and now demanded the attention of governments. After three

cheers for the aviators both Paterson and Driver made preparations to go aloft after six
o’clock. (Figs. 3.10 & 3.11).

The craft took off from the Cape Town end of the race-course and based their flight
paths on large circuits extending northwards and southwards of the course, but

remaining in view of the crowds seated in the grandstand. Paterson in the bi-plane, went

up first, and made two flights the longest of which was 15 miles and reached an altitude
of 2,000 feet; Driver made one flight, in “the prettier of the two air craft”, and covered

10 miles and reached an altitude of 1,500 feet.