FLIGHT OF COBHAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19957, 28 May 1928, Page 9

FLIGHT OF COBHAM.

PLANE REACHES GIBRALTAR. AFRICAN TOUR NEARLY ENDED. Australian Presu Association—United Service (Received May 27, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. May 26. Sir Alan Cobham arrived at Gibraltar to-day from Las Palmas, Canary Islands, and Casablanca, Morocco. The conditions for these stages of the flight were excellent. He has now flown for 16,740 miles, in connection with the aerial survey of Africa. The party consists of Sir Alan and Lady Cobham and the crew of the plane. Besides Sir Alan and Lady Cobham the plane carried an assistant pilot, Captain H. V. Worrall, two engineers, Messrs F. Green and C. E. Conway, and a cinematographer, Mr. S. R. Bounett. The plane was a Short all-metal " Singapore " flying-boat, with two Rolls Royce " Condor engines, of 700 horse-power each, lent by the Air Ministry. The start was made on November 17 from the Rochester, Kent, seaplane base, and Sir Alan flew via London to Southampton. lie left there the same day, but a heavy mist and a gale forced him to return. He crossed to Bordeaux, and then to Marseilles and Malta, where he had to repair a wing float, and was delayed till January 21. He then went on to Benghazi, North Africa, and up the Nile to Khartoum. He reached Lake Victoria Nyanza on February 22, and visited the West African colonies. He touched at Beira and Durban and reached Capetown on March 30. Ho then flew north via Portuguese West Africa, the mouth of the Congo, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. He was delayed before reaching there by engine trouble after leaving Accra, Gold Coast. He touched at Port Etienne, French West Africa, and then crossed to Las Palmas, Canary Islands, and reached Gibraltar on May 26. The tour was most carefully organised by Sir Alan, who had arranged for spare parts and supplies at various places on his itinerary. The flight was financed by Sir Charles Wakefield. Lady Cobham helped to keep the records of the flight, and also cooked for the crew.