COBHAM’S GREAT FLIGHT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17154, 2 October 1926, Page 19

COBHAM’S GREAT FLIGHT

(Rice. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) t Austral kin and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received October 2. 3.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 1. After landing Cohham was taken to tlie House nt Commons, outside of which lie was welcomed by Sir Samuel Hoarc. Before welcoming Cohham and his mechanic in the name ol the Government and the nation. Sir Samuel Hoare read the King’s Message to t obham, and Ids two mechanics. It reads: “On vour safe return Irom Australia 1 oiler cordial welcome, and congratulate you on the, successful termination of another historic Might. Sir Samuel paid a tribute to the high elliciciicv of the ’plane and engines. The fewness of the repairs were evidence of the excellence of British "inkmanship. L’ohlmm had achieved something which politicians had allempfed. hut, not always with success, namely the bringing of the people ol the .l‘,mpirn more, closely together in boTty and m mind. In all their congratulations tliey must not tor get I lie brave Llliotl and Iris mother. Sir (has. Wakefield added a tribute on behalf of private citizens. He said the (light demonstrated that Britain is not decadent. The flight would have a unique place in the history of imperial aviation. , Cohham feelingly referred to Elliott s death, describing the terrible tragedy. He paid a glowing tribute to Sergeant Ward, saving that he only knew the engine by theory, but got through and home again without a hitch. A TERRIFIC JOB. Ooblinm said : “I knew it would he a teirific job to iiv in two jumps. daily homewards with only two in the plane. 1 asked Mr. Cape I to join us. 1 do not know what we should 1 have done without him. Ihe flight to Austialia

ACHIEVEMENT GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED STIRRING WELCOME IN ENGLAND CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE KING “TERMINATION OF AN HISTORICAL FLIGHT“ LINKING THE EMPIRE TOGETHER Cobliam’s arrival in England was the signal lor a great welcome, representative of all sections. Glowing tributes were paid to him aTui Ills companions, and the flight was described as»a sign of England’s ability to accomplish great tasks. Cobliam himself declares that the trip was a wonderful experience, and rejoiced in the fact that lie was able to make faster time than the mail boat.

was not a stunt, I can tell you. We round » ill much in the face ol severe (litHculti<s, hut it was my ambition to do that. “The oldv real check was the irageov at Iraq, and the difficulty of finding aeroplane bases in -the Persian t-id|. 'Die monsoon provided valuable experi'ence. The whole mule 1 1 mil Calcutta to Port. Darwin provides ideal places fur aeroplane liases. I i liink i have beaten the mail boat.” Cohham handed over Lord Stonehaven's, Mr. Bruce's and other letters to Mr. 1., C. M. S. Amery’s private secretary. The Moulton's mails are being landed ai Marseilles to-night to he delivered m London on .Monday. POSSIBLE AM! SERVICE. Referring to the air service to Australia. fiihiiam, in an interview, said it was significant- that there, was not one stoppage or delay, going* or coming, duo to engine trouble or machine failure, so j i-o|n a flying point of view ilimgst were as -near to perfection as possible. Describing I lie monsoon which made 11 in world think they were lost,, Jie said it- was the worst, of the season. " \Ye collided with it, got- .surrounded by it, torrents of rail.’ simply swept through thi' machine, and- we could not have got wetter if we had dived overboard. We had no wireless weather reports to guide us, as wilt be the case when a- regular service is inaugurated. “ My idea, of a. service is that, it should be overland to Marseilles, or by ’plane to Calcutta, then by seaplane til rough to Darwin, where it. would link up with the, Australian service. You have- got to remember that the monsoons delay even mail, liners, and with a properly-organised service we could get 60 per cent regularity, which is £0 times better than anything we are getting to-day.”