Percival E.2H Mew Gull G-AEXF (c/n E.22) flown solo by Alex Henshaw from Gravesend to Capetown and return via the Sahara, in a record-breaking, and still unbeaten, elapsed time of 4 days 10 hours 20 minutes-time airborne 39hr 36 min-the longest-standing long distance flying record of all time. Having flown the 1936-built aircraft since May 1937, and winning the King’s Cup Air Race at Hatfield in July 1938 (speed 236.25mph), he sold the aircraft to a French owner in July 1939.
There is an excellent replica of this aircraft in the RAF Museum, Hendon.
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