FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0167.PDF
MARCH 11, 1926 THE AFRICAN FLIGHTS MR. ALAN COBHAM (accompanied by Mr. Elliott and Mr. Emmott) has successfully completed the return flight across Africa, from south to north, and has, as originally intended, covered the 5,830 miles with true Cobham hustle. Thus, he flew from Cape Town to Cairo in nine-and-a-half days, and if it had not been for one or two irritating delays caused by tropical rainstorms and sandstorms, he would have done even better. Last week we left Mr. Cobham at work with his native " Palais de Dance " scheme for hardening the sodden aerodrome at N'Dola, which apparently succeeded, for on March 2 he managed to get away as far as Abercorn where the night was spent. On the following morning they proceeded to Tabora, flying over the world's highest waterfall at Kalambo en route. Mud again gave trouble at Tabora, but they managed eventually to get away after refuelling and reach Kisuma the same day. On March 4 a 4-J-hours' flight to Mongalla was accom- plished, and after a short rest there, the day's 800 miles was completed at Malakal. During this stage Cobham stated that the heat was appalling, but that the D.H.50J and the Armstrong Siddeley " Jaguar " stood it well. The next day they hurried on to Khartoum, and troubles com- menced again. Proceeding on March 6, during a lull in a violent sandstorm, they climbed, first to 5,000 ft. then to 11,000 ft., in order to clear the dust-laden air, but not with any great success. Visibility was practically nil, and only a ghost of the Nile—their only guide—was seen (occasionally). Thus, with a short stop at Atbara, and with a head wind against them, they accomplished a nightmare flight of nearly 800 miles and nine hours' flying to Assuan—once being completely lost over the desert. Sunday was truly a day of rest, for with the wind behind them they covered the 480 miles to Cairo in 4 hrs. 40 mins. However, more sandstorms prevented them from proceeding to Sollum until March 9, and here we must leave them until " our next." In the meanwhile the R.A.F. flight of Fairey III.D's (Napier " Lions "), under Wing-Commander C. Pulford, was making good progress in the opposite direction. On March 3 they arrived at Atbara from Assuan, stopping at Wady Haifa on the way. Khartoum was reached on March 4, and on March 6 they proceeded to Kosti, where they had to land owing to a sandstorm, which held them up until March 8, when thev flew on to Malakal. AN ARISTOCRAT "iie Bristol '-Berkeley" is a day bomber fitted with Rolls-Royce "Condor" Engine. The machine is of '-metal construction, with steel as the material used for the main structure members and Duralumin for mor parts. For the Bristol-Frise patented balanced ailerons it is claimed that they introduce no yaw to erfere with the sighting of the bomber. The pilot's cockpit is placed ahead of the wings, where his view is particularly good. 147
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
