FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 29

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

DEPARTURE OF MR COBHxiM. LONDON. June 30. Mr Alan Cobliam successfully started on his flight to Australia at o in the morning. He made a perfect take-off. Mr Cohham hopes to reach Naples tonight. His wife’s shrill “cheerio” rang out as he took off. ARRIVAL AT NAPLES. ROME, July 1. Mr Alan Cobliam has arrived at Naples after an excellent passage. He reported that everything was running smoothly. AVIATOR REACHES ATHENS. ATHENS, July 1. Mr Alan Cobliam has arrived here. MR COBHAM SLIGHTLY INDIS. POSED. ATHENS, July 2. Mr Alan Cobham lias been detained by a slight indisposition but he fully expects to continue his flight to-morrow. RESUMPTION OF FLIGHT. LONDON, July 4. The following message has been received from Mr Alan Cobham : “We departed from Athens at 9 and arrived at Leros at 10.45 after a delightful flight over the Aegean Sea. We then took off on the 600-mile flight to Alcxandrefcte, where the British Consul met us with a steam yacht in the bay and towed us into the harbour. I am feeling better after a day’s rest at AthensT"To-morrow we fly to Bagdad.” In the course of his flight to Australia Mr Cobham intends to make a quick dash to Melbourne and back. Petrol supplies have been established by the British Imperial Oil Company at Darwin, Catherine River, Newcastle Waters, * Brunette Downs, CloncurTy, Longreach, j (Jharleville, Bourke, Sydney, Hay, and . Melbourne. This will be the route to be followed by the airman. Mr Cobham ex- I pects to arrive at Darwin in a seaplane, j The Air Board has despatched to Darwin in the steamer Marella an undercarriage, and on the airman’s arrival the seaplane floats will be removed and the undercarriage will be fitted for the flight td Melbourne. The last hop off from the Asiatic territory for the flight to Darwin will be from Atamboca, in Timor, whence the distance to Darwin is 500 miles across the Timor Sea.