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Aviation History
1946
1946 - 1731.PDF
SEPTEMBER 5TH. 1946 FLIGHT * 1 Birds' Air Tour Across France to the Matterhorn Some Pleasant Recollections—and a Warning or Tivo By DOUGLAS FAWCETT Very good weather had been enjoyed, and an easy cross- ing of the Juras had seemed likely. But the clouds round about Montbeliard proved to be thick ; we had to descend from some 5,000ft to about 700. Yes, there was the Rhone- Rhine canal, and there was the loop of the River Doubs, but ahead always thickening cloud. We followed the narrow Doubs valley for a while, to perceive that to make for Switzerland would be just foolish. So we had to turn westward, hoping to reach a French airfield, although many of such places available for our retreat are at present deserted. Good Rarga Essential A long search might impose itself. Then, as time slipped by, came an awkward discovery : petrol was running short. May I take this opportunity of warning amateurs not to trust themselves to any new light aircraft which has not a good range ; that is if they want to enjoy Continental touring safely. My old Hornet Moth had an excellent range, using six gallons of fuel an hour out of her store of 36. Yet even with this store I had once no more than three gallons left on landing at Lyons after a long fight with fog ! .__.„ The Whitney Straight has a good range ; its misfortune was due simply to the weather. And we were not solving the problem created by the clouds. So pilot decided lacked was made of no account by two bottles of capital Macon. These bottles were entered in the bill as worth 700 francs, but such astronomical figures were less startling than they looked, the £1 exchanging for 480 francs. Next day the take-off, which re- quired a light burden, was fully successful. Pilot got away down- hill in about 100 yards, making for Besaricon, 20 miles off, which could just be reached with the petrol left, it was hoped. I took all the baggage and drove in a rickety old car to Besancon, having to get change at the Bank of France and meet my friend at the airport. No need to dwell on my fight with officialdom ; 1 got the ciiange, settled accounts and was driven to the airport. There, within a dismantled and deserted enclosure, was my friend Wing Commander Davy whoshared the flight with Mr Fawcett. This picture was taken by the author on a pre-war flight, when the Matterhorn was busy making cloud but had not been quite hidden. The height is 14,780ft. to try to land. Down we swept into the valley, running roughly north and south. Petrol-level indicators are not always reliable, and one had to be on the safe side. Prospects at first seemed poor—_sinall peasant properties interspersed with woods, fields with ditches, palisades, cows, heavy crops, etc., looked anything but hospitable. Yet, after much fast low flying and inspecting, the opportunity came. We glided down a lane of grass, which curved towards a clear slope bordered by wheat. Down to the second notch went the flap control, and the craft touched- down at about 50, took the curve with a lurch and, climb ing up the slope beside the wall of wheat, came to rest unhurt. A truly fine piece of work. In a few minutes M. le Cure and a crowd of villagers had collected, all very interested and friendly. We were near Vallerois le Bois, in the Haute Saone. Our valises were carried to the village inn, guards were posted to sleep in the craft, and we began to wonder what compensations for us supper would provide. Well, our supper was simple but well cooked by Madame Sagot, our landlady, and what it sitting like Patience, but inside her monument'!* Fourhours after, having secured petrol of automobile, not aviation, quality, we soared out of high grass and, withimmense relief, got clear of Besancon. We were now about 70 miles from the frontier, rising- to5,500ft as we crossed it. I held my stick with glee when I saw once more on my right Neuchatel, the lake of thatname, and the lake of Morat; on my left the Bielersee and the river Aare, and ahead, in the gloom of a threateningsummer storm, the outlying houses of Berne. The spec- tacle was a fine one indeed. We enjoyed it heartily as thecraft, sailing over the centre of the city, floated down to rest in the pretty airfield of Belp-Moos that lies beside therushing Aare. Far away to the south-east, half hidden in cloud, toweied the giant peaks of the Bernese OberlandThe black awnings of the storm soon wore thin and left us in peace. Dinner at the Hotel Bristol was entirely satisfactory,luxurious, in fact, after London fare. Wine, too, at toler- able prices, was at call. But it must not be supposed that
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