TITLE FOR ALAN COBHAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19452, 7 October 1926, Page 11

TITLE FOR ALAN COBHAM.

KING CONFERS KNIGHTHOOD > ADMIRERS' GIFT OF £IO,OOO. SERVICES TO THE EMPIRE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 7.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Sua. LONDON. Oct. 6.' In recognition of tho services of Mr. Alan J. Cobhani to British Empire aviation the King has conferred upon him a Knighthood of tho Order of the British Empire. Admirers of the distinguished airman havo presented him with a sum of £IO,OOO in recognition of his flight to Australia and back. The Daily Express says Sir Alan will on Thursday fly from London to Manchester, where there is a proposal to raise subscriptions for an aerodrome site. The airman says he is anxious to make Manchester people take a more active interest in civil and commercial flying. It is understood Sir Alan is considering undertaking a trans-Atlantic flight. During recent years Sir Alan Cobham's name has been much before the public as a result of his many long flights to different parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. He learned to fly in tho Royal Flying Corps during the war, and after demobilisation hoped to be employed by one of tho many civil aviation companies which sprang up in the wave of optimism born with the coming of peace. But there were few vacancies and many applicants, and, in the spring of 1919, Cobham joined the two Holmes brothers in the formation of the Berkshire Aviation Company, which possessed ono Avro, a Ford car, £SO worth oi petrol, and £2OO in cash. They moved from place to place giving exhibition flights and taking up passengers. But misfortune attended tho company, and, early in 1920, Cobham, with 75 shillings in the world, became a temporary pilot to an aerial photographic company, and for some timo was engaged in flying all over tho country with a photographer taking aerial views for commercial firms, landowners and others. Some of his adventures at that timo show that, despite his skill, good fortune was often his firm friend. In 1921 Cobham transferred to the new De Havilland Aircraft Company, and with his transfer began his series of long-dis-tance flights overseas. In August, J 921, he took Mr. Lucicn Shaqie, an American who was to be a good customer, on a tour through Northern Europe, visiting Denmark, Sweden and Poland, later flying to Italy and along the Riviera. A short time afterwards he took Mr. Sharpe to Spain, Morocco, Algeria and Tunis, visiting such places as. Timgad, Biskra and Marrakesh, being entertained in full state bv Moroccan notables. * His last flight with Mr. Sharpe was in 1923, when they travelled over 12,000 miles through Europe, the African deserts, the Holy Land, and Egypt. During this trip they flew direct from Crete to Solium, 300 miles over the open sea, yet so accurate was Cobham's navigation'that on arrival over the African coast they wero less than a mile off their true course.

Cobham has a long list of achievements to his credit. He won the King's Cup in the All-British Air Race in 1924; flew from London to Tangiers in 13 hours; flew over Victoria Falls; lost, his way in a blinding sandstofm over the Egyptian desert, and found his true course again: piloted Sir Sefton Branckner, Director of Civil Aviation, on a 17,000 miles return flight to India without a breakdown and without changing machine or engine; surveved Mount Everest from the air at, an altitude of 17,000 ft.; flew from England to Capetown and back. The last-named flight was completed on March 13, l^ 2 "- In recognition of the service rendered to aviation and of the high standard of efficiency shown in all his flights, it was decided, on approval of the King, p award Cobham the Air Force Cross. Ihis was on March 18, and at the same time he was presented with the Royal Aero Clnb gold medal. According to the Sydney Mormn 0 Herald, Sir Alan is a native ot Sydney. It has been said of him that the secret of his success is his capacity for taking pains, for concentrating, to the exclusion of all else, upon the problems of any long flight. One commentator says: lo> see Alan Cobham making ready for a flight is an education in itself. As a piece of personal staff work it is superb. He toils like a general betore a battle. Not a detail escapes his agile mind. Maps he pores over Weather reports ho examines. Questions as to alighting-grounds and fuel supplies he ponders with thoughtful care. And all the time, in his brain, he is going mile after milo over that particular route. He reckons where the flying will be easy. He calculates where, owing to climatic or geographical conditions, difficulty may be expected. Always he is thinking ahead. He has a genius for finding his way by air." TBEACY'S PROPOSAL. INTEREST IN ENGLAND. FLIGHT FROM AUSTRALIA. LONDON. Sept. '23. "The first Australian flier to England will be heartily welcome," says Commander William Perrin, secretary of the Aero Club, referring to the projected flight of Captain Treacy, of Brisbane. "The more flights the metrier, he added. "We want to sec England-to-Australia flights as popular as Channel swims. Nothing else would so stimulate air developments and expedite the extension of the Anglo-Indian air service to Australia."

Major de Havilland stated that he wished Captain Treacy every success. Tho venture would be another demonstration of flying to and from Australia, which was "less difficult and risky than at present appeared. It would also create an "air sense" in the countries en route.

"We are confident that in live years we shall see England-Australia flying a rcgu-~< lar habit," Major do Havilland said.