A NOTABLE FLIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 14 July 1925, Page 3

A NOTABLE FLIGHT

LIGHT AKEUI’LANE'S FEAT i

LONDON-ZUIUCII JOl KNKY

To prove that a light, aeroplane, which can be flown by an average perso.a, is e.jpa bio ot linking long journey* at a low cost, even in v-o-illicr co:kK- , turns tiiit are fir from iae.il, Mr .Man Cobh ato ,i t-!u* ' i-i-::: .urnum, ' flew in i aiivh a machine f mi Croydon Aerodrome I to Zurivli, Switzerland, and Lack, a dis-I tance el a thousand mill’s, says a London paper.

Mr Oobliam's l inu'-table and mlior details relating to the flight are:--

Lel't Croydon 4.54 a.in. Arrived Zurich 11 tt.m. Left Zurich 11.45 a.in, Returned Croydon 7.30 p.m Average speed 71 m.p.li. Cast t.f petrol (56 gals.) £4 4s Cost of oil (14 pints) 8s Total running cost (apoiox.) lei per mile Total flying time 13hr. 51min Tinies of fastest return journey

hv trains and boat 37 hours Cost, by trains and boat (Ist class') return £ll 6s 3d

The journeys out. and bark are the longest non slop flights < ver performed by a light, aeroplane. The machine is British—a Do 11 avi 1 land Moth, with a 27 63 horsepower Cirrus engine. Below Mr Cobhnm describes his flight, and points out that, this mode of travel is much more interesting and less dangerous than motor-cycling. "1 took off from Croydon at sunrise, at 4.54 a.m. The first job on the way was to circle at Lympne. because I did not carry wireless. Then 1 crossed the Channel and circled again at St. Ingle vert, and after that 1 picked up a direct ci mpass course to Bale. travelling in a dead straight line there, tlic first pari of the journey goes over tin’ old Flanders battirfrniil. I passed over Arras, then Canihrui. and later over the forest of the Ardennes. The sight, from the air was very weird.

"It- was like copse land, from which endless nnmlicrs of dead trees, which had been killed by shrapnel, showed clearly above the ground for miles and miles. I then passed over Tool and KpinaL and over the Vosges which were wrapped in heavy clouds. I just- managed to get over. Then wo got to Mnllioiise. and from there to .Bale. From Bale wij carried straight on into Zurich, ami lauded there. I’was on the ground at- Zurich exactly three-quarters of an hour, where I had a quick lunchceil consisting of a few sandwiches f took with me. 1 had a splendid reception at Zurich from the Swiss militarv.

"At 11.45 a.in. 1 took off again. The wind all the way out had been across me, and now it changed, and I had a three-quarter head wind. It was humping on the way out. and on the return journev the humps were terrific. In general, it was about 14 hours of ing"l saw most wonderful sights on the way hack. For a distance of some 20 miles there was a flaming mass of golden gorse in bloom on the hillside, atrulv wonderful sight.

“it was one long battle against the head wind on the way home. To get back in time 1 had to flay the whole way at about 50 feet from the ground. My engine ran like a top the whole time —like si sewing machine. In fact, I could not have done better on a big machine. This feat will bring home to the youths who are spending their time motor-cycling the fact that they can go in for something far more interesting and much less dangerous. It is much better sport than scooting about the country on motor-cycles.

"Mv average speed for the 1000 miles was just over 71 miles an hour. Run ning costs work out at about fjs for oil and £4 4s forjpeiml, altogether about Id it mile.”