FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0886.PDF
SEPTEMBER 20, 1928 DRIVA FLYING A Section of FLIGHT in the Interests of the Private Owner, Owner-Pilot, and Club Member PRIVATE AIR TOURS EVER since the conception of the light aeroplane it has never ceased to surprise one by the magnitude of the tasks it successfully essays. In long distance air tours in recent years it has played perhaps the largest part. Records have been won with it which might easily have been considered the exclusive possession of higher-powered aircraft. We are provoked to this reflection by two projected nights of great ambition. The first is a world's flight in a Gipsy-Moth by Vicomte and Vicomtesse de Sibour, which started from Stag Lane aerodrome on September 14. They anticipate their venture to last nine months and cover about 30,000 miles, flying only when the weather is In America many cities will be visited in the Gipsy-Moth, including Washington, the Vicomte's native place, Los Angeles, San Diego, St. Louis, Chicago and New York The tour will end with the voyage to England. The Vicomte is a director of the firm of William Whiteley. Ltd. He was a war pilot of noted skill and daring. The Vicomtesse has received flying instruction and is able to act as a relief pilot. They carry the minimum of luggage. Light 'Plane Atlantic Flight The other projected ambitious light 'plane flight is an attempt upon the Atlantic from Newfoundland to Ireland, [" FLIGHT " Photographs Vicomte and Vicomtesse de Sibour just before leaving on their world's flight from Stag Lane and (right)their friends discussing their venture. They are (left to right) Mr. G. Selfridge, Miss Fanny Ward, Princess Wiasewsky, Miss Mala Brand and Prince Wiasewsky. good, to ensure an enjoyable journey. It is their plan to visit friends in all parts of the world, penetrate wild areas to shoot big game, and try to introduce every variety into the flight. It is their hope to follow the course of the Me-Hong River in Siam, which has never been explored by air, so that the natives should see an aeroplane for the first time in their lives. At Chicago, the home of the Vicomtesse, who is the younger daughter of Mr. Gordon Selfridge, will be visited. The intended course is through France, Spain, North Africa and through to India via the usual route touching Cairo, Baghdad and Karachi. After calling on friends in India they will leave the Gipsy-Moth at Bangkok and shoot for a month or more in the Malay States. Another anticipated shooting trip is from Saigon, occupying another month. For the flight up the Me-Hong River, mentioned above, the Vicomte has made extensive search for landing grounds, of which there are very few, and those widely scattered. After the Siam stage will come the journey to China, then a voyage by boat to San Francisco. and the machine chosen is also a Gipsy-Moth. Lieut.-Com. H. C. MacDonald, D.S.C., is the pilot. In the last issue of FLIGHT we published under this section the story of his previous solo tour to Baghdad which involved a very dis- concerting adventure with Arabs and a crash. Commander MacDonald had only 8 hours' solo flying experience prior to that venture and had primarily planned to extend it to India. His Gipsy-Moth was shipped to St. John's, New- foundland, from Liverpool on September 18. It should be understood that he will not definitely decide on this Atlantic flight until he crosses to the other side and discovers the weather prospects. Should conditions at the time be against the venture he might then possibly and wisely turn his intentions to a flying tour of America or Canada. The distance from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Clifden, Ireland, is 1,890 miles. The Gipsy-Moth will be standard in all respects except for the modifications for the greater fuel capacity. The front cockpit will be fitted with the extra tank and the total amount 822
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
