FLYING IN RAIN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 4 October 1926, Page 8

FLYING IN RAIN.

PENANG TO RANGOON

VIVID DESCRIPTION BY MR. COBH AM.. Mr. Alan Cobham’s adventurous journey in a rainstorm from Victoria Point" to Rangoon was described as follows by the airman himself in a message to the Australian Press Association which was published in the Sydney Morning Herald:

• “I landed at Rangoon to-day (September 15), at 1.15, from Victoria Point, having flown 400 of the 600 miles in continuous rain. Our quick progress from Australia had a sudden check when, on Wednesday last week, during the flight from Penang to Victoria Point, we ran into heavy monsoonal rain. “We were on a compass course, over open sea scattered with uninhabited rocky islands when we ran into the storms. Eventually, owing to the heavy deluge, we were unable to see ahead and, fearing collision with isolated rock® as we flew low over the waves, we alighted on the water to leeward of a lonely island 40 miles from the mainland.

“The shore was rocky and the island was covered to the water’s edge with dense tropical vegetation, but we discovered a little sandy beach in a cove 100 yards wide and into this we taxied the "seaplane.

Sergeant Ward and Mr. Capel, my engineers, were out on the floats, and as°we neared the shelving beach they jumped into the water and manhandled the floats to the sand. Then with a long rope we lashed the seaplane to a coooanut palm growing at the water’s edge. '■ “We were happy to be safely down, although a deluge of rain was falling all the time. On investigation we discovered that it was impossible to penetrate the island owing to the dense jungle. We rigged, an awning under the trees for protection against t\ie rain and Ward insisted on lighting a fire. JOURNEY RESUMED. “We had no idea how long we should be marooned, but fortunately the rain ceased and we decided to push on. Ward got into the water and held the machine head on to the sea, while Qapel started the Siddeley-Jaguar engine. The moment it fired Ward leaped on to the floats and we were off. But we experienced great difficulty in getting up from the rollers. The short metal floats received a terrible buffeting, but at last we ascended, heading north-west into the rain. This became worse, hut we were determined to reach* a small Siamese village up a sheltered creek -further along the coast, which I had noticed on Uiy outward flight- to Australia. “Soon wo felt a vibration and heard a whistling noise, and knew that the rain had torn part of our propellor. Consequently we. were glad when eventuallv we reached the creek and calm water.! We saw a little village nestling among palpi s on a beach of silver sand, which was perfect for beaching the seaplane. We soon alighted on the water and beached the machine. “I was happy in the thought that we were again in touch with, life, food and shelter. The village was called Tanoon, and no one could speak anything but Siamese, but the _ people kindly gave us coffee and English biscuits. REPAIRING THE DAMAGE. “On examining the seaplane we discifvered slight damage to the propellor aud undercarriage. Ward and Oapel set to work to do repairs, while I went 20 miles in a car to the nearest telegraph office to warn Rangoon of my whereabouts. I discovered good roads in Siam and kindly people. “By evening the weather had cleared and the machine had been repaired. When the N tide came up at midnight we launched the seaplane and towed it out to a safe anchorage. On our return we. discovered that the secretary of his Highness the Prince, Lord Lieutenant of the district, had arrived with presents, of English tinned food, a. bottle of whisky, bottles of sodawater and cigarettes from the Prince, who liud just heard of our arrival.

‘•All night it rained, and on Thurs-* day morning this increased to a terrible deluge. It was : a good experience, from the survey point fc>f view, of wnat monsoon could be like in this part. Our difficulty is that we are conducting a pioneer flight with no gro’und organisation, no wireless communication, no weather reports and no seaplane bases as would exist on a regular . route. I am more convinced than ever that aviation, from an engineering point of view, is a sound proposition, its only difficulty being to combat the elements. This can be overcome on regular.air routes by wireless communication, weather reports, proper ground organisation at frequent aerodromes or seaplane bases, and large aircrafts with multiple engines. RACING A STORM. ‘•All day Thursday it rained heavily until late in the afternoon when it cleared a little. We managed to pack up and get, off and travel before dark lab miles to: Victoria. Point, where oil was stored.

On Friday morning we took off at six o'clock, with ominous storms coming up behind. We thought we could get ahead into line weather before tney arrived and reach Rangoon, 600 miles further on; but, after going 40 miles, we ran into the worst storm I have ever experienced. It simply wiped out ali visibility. “We turned back. To my dismay 1 discovered the bad weather had closed in behind us. We had to light our way back through a deluge ol water. After we circled to a small area where the rain was not so heavy, as it was impossible to go ahead owing to the solid mass of water teeming down.

“At last we reached Victoria. Point again. (There we moored just before a deluge came down. This almost swamped the small rowing boat that came to assist us. We moored in a. veritable waterspout and then jumped into the boat. We headed in the direction of the shore 150 yards away, and rowed into a cloudburst. The jetty could not be seen. We simply left our seaplane to weather out the storm at her moorings. She was obliterated from view. .“After this experience we decided to wait for a definite break in the weather. There was no telegraph, telephone- or wireless communication at intermediate places on our 600 miles jump to Rangoon.

“During our forced halt I saw what bad monsoonal conditions were like, lor it was impossible to move for five dafcs until to-day. Then we began the flight in dull weather. After the first 150 miles we saw the rain again, and flew the remaining 400 miles through

u continuous downpour until Rangoon was sighted in clear weather, “To-morrow we shall endeavour to reach Calcutta* , 1 ‘September 16. —To-day bad weather reached Rangoon. It seems to follow ul everywhere. I shall not leave for Akvab and Calcutta until the weathei reports are favourable. There are big storms in the Bay of Bengal. “It Victoria Point we were completely cut off. There was no telegraph, no wireless, no boat. lelegrains sent in sailing vessel for dispatch in Siam were returned, owing to the lines being down. ' I am still hopin jr to re ach Akyabto“^j^_