Nicky Oppenheimer tests Global 6500 at Biggin Hill ahead of conservation summit in London

Nicky Oppenheimer flew a brief 11-minute circuit at London Biggin Hill Airport on May 27, 2026, departing and arriving at the same airfield in an unusual test hop that reached only 825 feet. The short flight, likely a systems check or handling exercise, came as the billionaire conservationist prepared for a busy week in London.

Oppenheimer's visit coincides with the annual Africa Conservation Summit at the Royal Geographical Society, where he is expected to announce a new funding initiative for rhino anti-poaching units, per a Guardian report published May 24. The summit, which runs through May 29, draws major philanthropists and NGO leaders to address the ongoing crisis in the Kalahari region, where Oppenheimer's Tswalu Reserve sits at the center of a key wildlife corridor.

While Oppenheimer's home base remains O.R. Tambo International in Johannesburg, the London area serves as a frequent hub for his conservation and business interests. The Global 6500, registered ZS-EKA, has been parked at Biggin Hill since arriving from South Africa earlier in the month, and this brief flight suggests the aircraft is being readied for a longer journey — likely to Botswana's Kasane airport, gateway to the Okavango Delta, where Oppenheimer often conducts reserve inspections.