They're Off - And Flying

Pilots from around the world, in small, colorful planes, are off and flying for the London to Sydney Air Race.

CBS News Correspondent Richard Roth reports pilots from 11 countries, including the U.S., are taking part in the latest contest of what was in 1934 called "The Great Race."

The 14,000-mile journey, which began Sunday, follows the same 28-day schedule and route as a 1919 challenge race sponsored by the Australian government.

The race has already been marred by a fatal accident: two American women died when their twin-engine plane crashed into the sea off the coast of Iceland last week. Pilot Barbara Gard, 52, and her navigator Gwen Bloomingdale, 58, both of Provincetown, Mass., were on their way to London when the plane went down.

A special trophy will be awarded in their honor, along with other awards and trophies from about 20 countries crossed in the race, along what is known as the Kangaroo Route. The prize awarded at the end comes from money paid by competitors, said Leon DeBord, a race spokesman.

The crew that arrives in Australia first does not necessarily win the race. Pilots are ranked along the way according to a complex formula which takes account of the highest speed their planes can reach.

The 35 aircraft - 34 planes and a helicopter - have maximum speeds ranging from 75 to 180 mph. Crews are made up of between one and five people.

Some participants have flown competitively for years. The American group Skytrekkers features Margaret Ringenberg, 79, who has piloted planes since 1945.

The amount of money to be awarded the winner's being kept a secret until the winning moment arrives.

Ringenberg isn't too worried about that.

"Prize money? What prize money? I mean it's the challenge of the thing that really looking at," explained Ringerberg before taking off.

The slowest and oldest plane entered in the race is a Piper Cub plane built in the 1940s and used by American Gen. George Patton during World War II. The plane will be flown by Maurice Kirk of Britain, a former Royal Air Force volunteer reservist.

The race, which was also staged in 1934 and 1969, ends April 7.

It takes about 23 hours to get from London to Sydney on a commercial jet.

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