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That Yellow Plane

Jens Kozany tells the story of G-AAMY, the Gipsy Moth biplane so famously filmed in Out of Africa, and now resident of Segera Retreat in Laikipia
Segera's G-AAMY biplane heading towards Mount Kenya
Segera's G-AAMY biplane heading towards Mount Kenya

“Perhaps he knew, as I did not, that the Earth was made round so that we could not see too far down the road"   Karin Blixen – Out of Africa

The Oscar-winning movie Out of Africa conjures images of the quintessential African setting: breathtaking savannah plains, bountiful wildlife and glimpses of Kenya’s rich tribal cultures. At the centre of all of this, who can forget the yellow biplane soaring high above dramatic landscapes, flown by Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford) as he showed Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) his deep love of Africa? This heart-stopping performance captured filmgoers the world over. And don’t even let us get started on the soundtrack.

G-AMMY plane as it flies over Kenyan Landscape
G-AMMY plane as it flies over Kenyan Landscape
G-AAMY plane as filmed in the movie Out of Africa
G-AAMY plane as filmed in the movie Out of Africa

Out of Africa’s 1929-model Gipsy Moth G-AAMY biplane was shipped to Kenya in 1985 in the back of a DC8 for the filming of the movie. Sir Henry Dalrymple-White, a noted Royal Air Force Wing Commander in WW2, piloted it, soaring high above the Maasai Mara and the Great Rift Valley. He lived in Kenya and continued flying until his death aged 80 in 2006. The biplane was used for 50 hours of filming, during which it roused a large flock of pink flamingoes – a scene which the cinematographer, the late David Watkin, specifically attributed his Academy Award for lens work.

In 2013, G-AAMY was sold at a Paris auction to Segera in northern Kenya’s Laikipia. Fitted with a new engine and delicately re-assembled at Segera, G-AAMY has been given a new lease on life and once again soars over Kenya’s beautiful landscapes.

The movie, based on Blixen’s memoir of her time in Kenya, immortalised the scene of Finch Hatton’s last fateful flight. On the morning of 14 May 1931, Finch Hatton's Gipsy Moth took off from Voi airport, circled the airport twice, then plunged to the ground and burst into flames. Finch Hatton and his Kikuyu servant Kamau were killed. You can visit Denys' grave in the Ngong Hills.

“All sorrows can be borne if you put them into a story”   Karen Blixen – Out of Africa

Notes from the Editor:

G-AAMY is an American made Gipsy Moth and it has another unique characteristic – it’s made of steel rather than wood. Many of the Gipsy Moths destined for warmer climates were made of steel-tubing. This did add a little to the weight but it also lengthened the service life in countries known for their termite populations.

Filed under: East Africa Travel

Tagged with:

Denys Finch Hatton , G-AAMY biplane , Gipsy Moth , Karen Blixen , Laikipia , North of Angama , Out of Africa , Segera Retreat

About: Jens Kozany

Jens is the General Manager of Segera, a wildlife sanctuary where an inspirational journey provides a positive impact on the land and its people, focused around the 4Cs – conservation, community, culture and commerce. Returned home to Africa, G-AAMY found its rightful place amongst other significant Africana artifacts at the lodge, such as the private journals and unpublished letters of Ernest Hemingway, David Livingstone, Theodore Roosevelt and Karen Blixen. Segera is delighted to offer an incredible opportunity for major supporters of Segera’s 4Cs projects to enjoy and even fly in G-AAMY, to experience this unique aspect to a Kenyan safari.

Browse all articles by Jens Kozany Meet the angama team

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Join the Conversation (8 comments)

Comments (8):

warwick james jones

18 May 2023

i repaired the engine twice of the gypsy moth at bunns avaiation bungowannah nsw , as second movie is to be filmed in kenya pilot mech engineer 45 yrs james jones

    Charlotte Ross Stewart

    22 May 2023

    Hello James, thank you for your note. Well done you on repairing the engine — it's a beautiful plane but it must be a difficult one to repair.

Georgie Zentmeyer

16 December 2021

I am constantly overflown by a beautiful yellow airplane so I was just asking “Who’s is th yellow plane??? It is a beautiful transport airplane, not a by plane!!!

Joanne Gavin

17 July 2020

Kenya is my dream destination to visit at least once in my life...and taking a charted flight over the never ending savannah lands of the Kenyan ground is like experiencing heaven on earth... Hoping to live the dreamy movie life once..

    Nicky Fitzgerald

    17 July 2020

    Dear Joanne Thank you for your lovely post and hang on to that dream! But please be aware that a Kenyan safari comes with an addiction warning :) Warm regards Nicky

P.M. HIENSCH

19 May 2020

False registration G-AAMT, for the 1985-USA Film 'OUT of AFRICA'. Actually registration is G-AAMY, c/n 86 built in 1929 under license in the United States

Mike Caputo

8 December 2019

A favorite movie, and a favorite part of it. Are there two planes? G-AAMY and G-AAMT? The plane flying over the flamingos is clearly -T.

    Nicky Fitzgerald

    10 December 2019

    Thanks for your post Mike. As far as I know G-AAMY was the plane flown in the movie but I will check with my friends at Segera (where G-AAMY is hangared) and find out.

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