United States-based aircraft company, De Havilland Aircraft Company, is set to auction one of its prized possessions at a retail price of Ksh35 million.
International reports indicated that the iconic 1929 De Havilland Gipsy Moth, will be auctioned in Florida, USA at the beginning of March 2024, and the proceeds will be used to construct a rhino sanctuary in Kenya.
The black rhino is regarded as one of the world’s most endangered species, with approximately only 5,000 remaining in Africa today.
According to Robert Redford, an American actor who flew the plane in the 1980s, the initiative would assist in wildlife conservation.
“This important initiative will not only help secure the survival of a critically endangered species but will conserve vital biodiversity and pristine wilderness for future generations and create significant positive socio-economic impact for local communities,” Redford stated.
"The larger plan for interconnectivity with other conservation land will create a vast protected wilderness area and even more positive impact for the people and planet."
The American-made plane is famous for being flown over the Kenyan Savannah in the 1980s in the Academy Award willing film, Out of Africa.
In the film, Redford, who played a character called Denys, flew the plane for four minutes before crashing along the Savannah.
The aircraft was developed in the 1920s by British national Geoffrey De Havilland of the De Havilland Aircraft Company to offer affordable prices for long-distance flights.
Over the years, the plane has been hailed as a phenomenon for showcasing Kenya's natural beauty.
"This plane is a symbol of my first introduction to Kenya and its extraordinary landscapes, people and wildlife," Redford explained.
"It also helped millions of people around the world see the beauty of Kenya on the film for the first time and serves as a much-needed reminder that nature is precious and needs to be conserved before it's too late."
Due to its iconic grandeur, the aircraft is set to break records on the auction date.
