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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0459.PDF
JUNE 23, 1927 PR1VA pram •IIUIIIII~*M||lHl|gJy */ / / •'•'-—••" FLYING A Section of FLIGHT in the Interests of the Private Owner, Owner-Pilot, and Club Member TOURING SOUTH AFRICA IN A LIGHT 'PLANE MAJ. A. M. MILLER, D.S.O., M.L.A., recently completed a tour of South Africa in eight days in a " Moth " christened The Point, and flying the Ancient Order of Froth Blowers' pennant from one of the wing struts. Such was its importance in the aviation history of the country that some of the local papers devoted a whole page to the event. Maj. Miller was accompanied by a South African motoring journalist, Mr. J. G. Dunn, who apparently had no previous experience of flying. The public followed every phase of the flight as we do of Atlantic and India flights. The chosen route was from Cape Town round the south and east coast to the X'sutu River, then inland in a westerly direction to Pretoria, returning across country in a roughly parallel curve. It was not without many incidents like forced landings, fights with gales, and losing the course, but the machine came through splendidly considering the various conditions met with. As the object of the flight was to interest the public in riving it was a good policy to start, in spite of very bad weather at Cape Town. Amidst rain and mist which hid the mountain the " Moth " took oft. well loaded with luggage, just after 1 p.m. on a Friday, and headed in an easterly direction for Sir Lowrv Pass, Hottentot Holland Mountains, and Mossel Bay. The mist enveloped the machine like a blanket, even obscuring the wing-tips, until an altitude of 10,000 ft. was gained, when the cloud banks fell below, stretching away like beautiful snow hills, wlrlst the sun gleamed, although the air was very cold. Stray clouds occasionally covered them still and, altogether, the " Moth " was in and out of clouds for three-quarters of an hour, during which time the Hottentot Holland Mountains were passed over. Losing the Way Then came a definite break in the mist and a railway was sighted, towards which a dive was made through the lowest layers of cloud until these were cleared when 200 ft. above ground. At this juncture, Maj. Miller, who had no compass, made a mistake in navigation. It appeared that on dropping out of the clouds they came immediately above the town of Swellendam on the direct route to Riversdale. but for some reason it was not sighted, and a bend in the railway line a few miles ahead deceived the pilot with regard to his course. In the circumstances he decided to make for the coast in the south and follow it along to Mossel Bay. A very low altitude was kept at this stage and rainstorms continually marked the AROUND SOUTH AFRICA IN A WEEK : Some pictures from Maj. Miller's fine tour. Above the start from the auav.idP.tr.»S On the left, the " Moth " just before the start the statue behind it being that of European to land at Cape Town. On the right, Maj. Miller in the cockpit of the Moth ; and below, an admiring crowd at Durban. 417
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