'Heliopolis. A general view showing the aerodrome of the Imperial Airways, Ltd.' This was principally RAF Heliopolis. A Vickers Victoria with its biplane tail is parked near one of the hangars. The grand building with the circular portico is the Heliopolis Palace Hotel, today the Egyptian presidential palace. The airfield is now a military area used by the Republican Guard, including a heliport. It is not the same as Almaza (HEAZ), which was built around this time, in 1932, a few kilometres away near the top right corner of this picture. The two locations are often confused. Photo from: Library of Congress

This is RAF Heliopolis in Cairo - not the same airfield as Almaza (HEAZ). Some of the buildings look more modern than the aircraft, but then the Valentia looked outdated from the outset. Nevertheless, the type served well into WWII, sometimes still uncamouflaged. The second machine, K3605, even flew a bombing sortie against Italian troops at Sidi Barrani, Egypt in November 1940. The third, K3163, has its serial painted as KR3163, being a rebuilt Victoria. These are No 216 Sqn aircraft.