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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0302.PDF
FLIGHT, APRIL 1, 1932 (FLIGHT Photo.) England—Cape Town In 4a Days Mollison Realises his Ambition G' KADUALLY the aeroplane is bringing the parts of the British Empire closer together, mentally no less than physically. By his flight Mr. J. A. Mollison has brought Capetown within 4 days 17 hr. 19 min. of London, and, although this was achieved at the cost of terrific strain on the pilot, the flight has once again demonstrated to the world the qualities of British aircraft and British aero engines. No one would argue from Mollison's flight that Imperial Airways could and should operate to a similar time schedule with the mails. This is not yet possible, but the outstanding flight of to-day is the everyday occurrence of to-morrow, and by his flight Mollison has, among other things, given us a glimpse of the not too distant future when a letter posted in London to-day will be delivered in Capetown some five days later. The history of Mollison's flight is one of heroic struggle by man against nature's limita tions. Anyone who has made a flight of even a few hours' duration will know the almost irresistible tendency to sleep which the drone of the engine induces. How Mollison man aged to remain awake with so little sleep is in itself a wonder. That he was able to navigate as accurately as he must have done to cover the distance in the time is little short of marvellous. Leaving Lympne Aerodrome, Kent, on Thursday last, March 24, at 1.05 a.m., in his " Puss Moth " G-ABKG (Gipsy III engine), he crossed France during the earlier part of that day and the Mediterranean during the late morning, land ing at Oran, in Northern Africa, at 12.30 p.m. After half-an-hour's halt for refuel ling he was off again and reached Colomb Bechar at 4.30 in the afternoon. After a short rest at Colomb THE WESTERN ROUTE TO CAPETOWN: By taking this, Mollison saved a distance of nearly 800 miles. His route is very nearly the same as that planned for the Fairey Long-distance monoplane, and is shown in full lines, while Imperial Airways' route is shown dotted. Bechar Mollison set off again to cross the Sahara desert by night. Reggan Oasis was reached at 8.40 a.m. on Friday, March 25. Less than an hour later he was on his way once more, with Gao as his destination. He does not, however, appear to have landed at Gao, but was reported as having passed over in the evening. On Saturday, March 26, he landed at Niamey at 6 p.m. It was afterwards stated that Mollison had had some slight trouble, and that he had made a pre cautionary landing (as dis tinct from a forced landing) somewhere between Gao and Niamey. From Niamey to Walvis Bay Mollison's movements are at the moment a little vague. He flew from Niamey to Duala, thence to Loanda, where he landed at 5.40 p.m. on Sunday, March 27, and left again at 10 p.m. Walvis Bay was reached at 10.45 a.m. on Monday, March 28, and after refuelling the journey was con tinued. On his way to Cape town Mollison was reported to have been seen over Port Nolloth at 4.30 p.m., and at 8.35 p.m. he landed in the dark on the beach at Milner- ton, some three miles from Capetown. The aerodrome at Capetown was illuminated in readiness for his arrival, but Mollison was so fatigued from his flight that he felt he could not land his machine safely in the brilliant light, and pre ferred to take a chance in landing in the dark outside. The machine was somewhat severelv damaged, but Mollison himself was unhurt, although naturally utterly exhausted. He was given a great recep tion in Capetown, and among those to greet him was Mis? Amy Johnson. Details are at present too meatrre for a complete log to be given, but in outline the flight tok place as shown overleaf. 278
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