Ray Parer and John McIntosh made the first flight from the UK to Australia in a single-engine aircraft. The eight-month odyssey involved many mishaps and setbacks before reaching Darwin in August 1920. G-EAQM is now preserved at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. P.D. stands for whisky maker Peter Dawson who sponsored the flight. Photo from: State Library of Queensland

This historic aircraft was the first single-engine aircraft to fly from England to Australia, in 1920. The journey took an incredible 206 days, including two forced landings in the Middle East and a crash at Moulmein, Burma. The letters 'PD' are Parer & McIntosh's sponsor, Peter Dawson whiskey distillers. Built for the RAF as F1278 in 1918, the aircraft was purchased by the AWM for 250 pounds in 1922. Restored 1975-1990.