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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0863.PDF
NOVEMBER 10, 1927 PR1VA FLYING A Section of FLIGHT in the Interests of the Private Owner, Owner-Pilot, and Club Member TOURING EUROPE IN A WESTLAND "WIDGEON" By SQ.-LDR. THE HON. I HAVE been asked to write some notes on a month's tour round Europe, recently completed by Flight Lieut. Drew and myself on a Westland " Widgeon,"" with a " Cirrus II " engine. The trip was undertaken as a pleasure tour, with the idea of seeing something of Europe, and with the hopes of spending our leave outside the zone of continuous rain. We started out on September 1, with the intention of flying round Germany, and then on to Venice, by the 25th, for the Schneider Trophy, We were able to fly on every day on which we intended to, and were never forced to postpone our depar- ture or alter our route on account of the weather, yet I do not think that it was more than normally favourable for that part of the Continent. The actual route followed is shown on the map. Allowing for a few deviations for visiting towns, the distance flown was 3,860 miles in 52 hours' actual flying time, which gives a mean ground speed of 74 m.p.h. As the wind was more often against than with us, this is quite a fair average, and corresponds to an air speed of about 82 m.p.h. Our con- sumption of petrol worked out at 16-4 miles per gallon, the figure being obtained by dividing the distance flown by the total amount of petrol consumed. It, therefore, includes all petrol used for running up and taxying—the latter a heavy item on German aerodromes—and does not allow for the effect of head winds. The consumption is a good deal higher than that sometimes quoted in light aeroplane performances, but it represents a good average figure for a month's tour. The oil consumption, including oil wasted when cleaning the sump, worked out at 1-65 pints per hour, We carried 120 lbs. of luggage and spares, which gave us a large and medium-size suit case and sufficient clothes to meet the sartorial requirements of such diverse places as Berlin and the Lido. In case it may be of interest, 1 give an analysis of all ex- penses incurred in connection with the flying part of the trip, with the exception of the depreciation of the machine :— i *• d. Petrol, oil and insurance Transport to and from aerodromes Landing and housing fees Customs dues Maps Permits to fly Maintenance and repairs TOTAL •or a total cost of 4-37(7. per mile. , . r>38 3 <> 1 0 1 . . /70 1014 6 0 7 9 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 R. A. COCHRANE, p.s.a. The figure for maintenance and repairs consists of sundry- tips to mechanics, who helped in filling up the machine. We actually used no spares whatever. As illustrative of that queer thing, comparative values, it may be mentioned that, for the cost of one aperitif on the Lido, one might buy suffi- cient petrol in England to fly 40 miles. I do not pretend to judge which alternative is productive of the greater pleasure, but the fact remains that the flying costs were by no means the heaviest item in the total budget. As a matter of interest, the cost of the same trip by rail, visiting the same towns and travelling third class in England and second class abroad, would have been /44 16s., while if we had travelled first class all the way, it would have been £"65. 2s. While on the subject of costs, let me warn those who arrive in a town by air that they should be guarded in their remarks until the price of their rooms has been duly arranged. They will then be able to enjoy the look of morti- fication on the proprietor's face when he realises the chance he has missed, for arrival by private aeroplane places one in the same category as the owners of Rolls Royce's and other unattainable luxuries, and as such, eligible for the third degree of robbery. Impressions of the Tour I do not propose to give a detailed account of our trip. Our progress was entirely normal, and, by never leaving an aerodrome before noon, if it could possibly be avoided, we managed to escape all semblance of hurry. A few brief impressions of this type of flying may, however, be of interest. During the month that we were away we flew over some very varied country, but only on one section—that between Hamburg and Bremen—where we encountered low cloud, drizzle and cold wind, can the scenery have been described as uninteresting. For the rest, the country we flew over was sufficiently varied to provide continuous interest, and it was only when flights of over two hours at a stretch had to be attempted that one felt inclined to sit back and let the earth slide past without the effort of sightseeing. I have often heard it suggested that one sees nothing of a country from the air, but I think it is fairer to say that one sees only as much as one is prepared to look for, or as one has the knowledge to understand, although one does occasion- ally pass over signs too obvious to be missed. To give a few examples :—When flying from Ostend to Brussels in the late summer, anyone interested in gardens would have his atten- tion forcibly drawn to a system of formal gardening which embodies colour schemes so brilliant as to dazzle the eye WIDGEON Squad.-Ldr. The Hon. R. A. Cochrane and Flight-Lieut. Drew imade theirSes^nfand^ucceTsfuriSropean air tour on the Westland "Widgeon » (Cirrus II engine). The mono- plane proved very stable in bumpy weather and a pleasure to fly. Neither the machine nor engine gaveP the least trouble during the long trip, thereby fully living up to their deserved reputations. 779
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