Elly Beinhorn, 29, in the pilot seat of her Messerschmit Me-108 Taifun, code D-IMXA. With this she flew, among others, to Capetown and back together with husband Bernd Rosemeyer, who was due to drive in the early 1937 South African races. The Taifun was then the top of European touring planes. Can you image flying from Berlin above the whole length of Africa and back single-engined and navigating with the compass only? Elly Beinhorn was a master of that, and in the meantime she gave flying lessons to Bernd.
It was Jonathan Sharp’s photo of the Me-108 in last week’s VeloceToday that prompted long time reader and contributor Aldo Zana to send us this compelling and revealing 2003 interview with Elly Beinhorn, answering the question “Who was Elly Beinhorn?” Thanks to Jonathan for his interest in aeroplanes and to Aldo for this interview- Ed.
By Aldo Zana
Photos from author’s collection
She sits at a coffee table, opposite the door. White shirt and a black skirt. Her snow white hair perfectly trimmed and combed. Bernd, her son, enters first: “Hello, Mom. How do you feel, today? Good? Good, for we’ve visitors.”