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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 1010.PDF
FLIGHT, NOVEMBER 16, 1933 returning from the pictures—such is the custom of this country. The monsoon is on and the rain has poured down all day. The story of this flight over country averaging from 200 to 300 in. rainfall per year is a story of efficiency of machine and personnel which to come in its proper place must be told later. Everything looks drenched and wet, even to the natives many of whom, though clad only in loin cloth, persist in carrying an umbrella. Everyone has the monsoon season on their minds—the officials have fled to Simla or are home on leave: the shops display large " Monsoon Sale " notices; the Arab pony races at Rangoon yesterday were the " Second Monsoon Meeting," and are run wet or fine. All the talk is "Monsoon," and down comes the rain! Damp sticky heat, but not felt in the comfortable well- ventilated Astraea or in the hotels, which are built an 1 serviced to counteract the tropical heat of the country. SECTION III.—CALCUTTA—KARACHI The last contribution towards the story of the flight of the Astraea concluded with the arrival at Dum Dum aero drome, Calcutta, after flying through the intensity of the monsoon and being guided to port by the machine's ex cellent wireless. The final instalments are written from the Grosvenor Hotel, London. The air journey, intense in its interest and lesson of the advancement of commercial aviation, has been completed in 14 days out from Darwin. If the journey had been undertaken by boat we would still have been in the vicinity of Colombo. Fourteen days out from Darwin! It seemed incredible when the French porter on the com fortable Wagons Lits sleeper put his head round the door and holding up one finger said, " Une heure Paris." Yet two hours later we were having an excellent breakfast over the Channel on the Imperial Airways " Heracles " class 38-passenger air liner, and at 11.15 a.m. on July 24, exactly on time, we landed at Croydon aerodrome. Calcutta was disappointing. It rained incessantly day and night for the one-and-a-half days we waited to pick up the schedule of the newly-inaugurated Calcutta-Karachi Airways Service. A steady, hot, steamy rain, but despite this handicap the various places of interest were visited. The Black Hole ; the beautiful open park in the centre of the city with the Queen Victoria Memorial and various other statuary ; the gruesome Burning Ghats, and the never-ending native quarter. A land of rain and damp, police and soldiers, shuttered windows and natives in nothing but loin cloths, but holding umbrellas over their heads. When evening comes along, or the native feels tired, the loin cloth is unwound and forms an excellent sheet covering while taking a quiet sleep. Shroud-like forms line the pavement in front of the huge Great Eastern Hotel with its magnificent air-conditioned dining room, and you stumble over them in the billiards room, while you are as likely as not to meet a big Indian bull standing out on the sidewalk—we left with a bad impres sion of Calcutta. ON THE EDGE OF AUSTRALIA ; The Astraea takes in a supply of " Shell " at Darwin before leaving for the Dutch East Indies. AN INCIDENT IN AUSTRALIA : The native " King " of Bathurst Island, highly impressed by the visit of Astraea— " the White King's Messenger "—gave the airliner a hearty welcome. July 18, 1933 Arrived at Dum Dum aerodrome—it was still raining steadily, and a miniature lake stretched round the hangar. The Astraea got off an hour late waiting for light to enable a safe taxi-ing out to the higher ground, and for weather reports. The local airmen doubted if the machine could be taxied out, but this was successfully accomplished and an excellent take-off made, the Astraea almost throwing up a " bow wave " as the muddy water threshed past the cabin windows. A less efficient machine would have been hopelessly stuck. Allahabad, 480 miles away, was the objective, and after running out of the worst of the stormy area, a landing was made at the excellent aerodrome. A well-served break fast at the Imperial Airways Rest House—enormous Indian mangoes being a feature of this—and we were well on our way again for the 100-mile run to Cawnport. Fifty-five minutes was all that was required for this, then two hours for the 240-mile run to Delhi. The Astraea was on the ground exactly four minutes at Cawnpore. Time had to be made up, so the mails were handed over and taken with efficient despatch. Between Cawnpore and Delhi the French Air Orient machine on its way to Indo-China passed far below, a fast travelling streak of red and silver. From Delhi, with its fine buildings, both ancient and modern, and well-equipped aerodrome, the Astraea pushed on to Jodhpur, the last stage of the day. We arrived at 6.0 p.m., having flown 1,140 miles in 9 hr. and made up the time lost owing to the late start. Two passengers had been taken on at Delhi and more mails for Europe. Jodhpur proved a most interesting night stop. The State is ruled over by the Maharajah of Jodhpur. In tensely keen on aviation and horseflesh—a great deal of interest in both is to be seen. The aerodrome and build ings are done in red stone, with appropriate carving, winged horses, and were easily the most modern we had seen on the trip, and carried an air of prosperity and pro gress. On the outskirts of the town were to be seen excellent horses, polo ponies, cavalry parade grounds and polo grounds. Here were seen the Jodhpur trousers worn in their country of origin. A tour of the city was full of interest. The natives appeared very friendly and of an excellent type. The native temples and bazaars, the huge citadel perched high on its cliff-surrounded edifice, and the magnificent white marble tomb of the Maharajah, grandfather of the reign ing Prince, were full of interest 50
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