COBHAM ARRIVES.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1926, Page 2

COBHAM ARRIVES.

AT PORT DARWIN. [Australian & N.Z. Cablo Association.] DARWIN, August 5. Cobliam lias arrived here. He came down after circling the “H.M.S. Geranium.” He touched water off Mnidil Beach, between Fanny Bay and the entrance to Darwin harbour.

The whole town, was greatly excited when it was known that Cobham would land to-day, and almost the whole of Darwin’s population, between two thousand and three thousand, gathered behind the beach, and also round the aerodrome, awaiting bis arrival.

The crowds waited boar after hour, scanning the sky for the speck which would represent the plane. When the siieck was finally sighted rapidly approaching, until even the figures of the aviators were visible, there was a great,roar of welcome, which was sustained while the plane circled the warship, and finally settled in water between the ship and the beach.

The aviators were conveyed aboard the warship, and were welcomed by the Acting-Administrator of the Territory and by a number of the leading citizens.

The plane will he brought ashore. The floats will he taken off, anti wheels will be attached. The ’plane will then fly to the aerodrome, where it will he overhauled, before the flight is resumed.

THIRTY-SEVEN DAYS’ - JOURNEY;

DARWIN. August 5. Cobham landed at three o’clock in the afternoon, lie was met by Colonel Brinsmead, Director of Civil Aviation, who will accompany lEim across Australia. . Cobham’s journey so far has occupied thirty-seven days, hut the actual flying time is much less. He has received many congratulatory messages, including one from Mr Bruce, on behalf of the people and the Government of Australia.

COBHAM’S LATE MECHANIC. LONDON. August 4. Sir Charles Wakefield has arranged to pay tho mother of the mechanic Elliott, who was fatally shot- by a. native, while flying with Cobham. an annuity of one hundred pounds, in recognition of her son’s heroism in the cause of British aviation.

REPORT OF JOURNEY

(Received this day at 9.0 a.m.)

SYDNEY, Aug. G,

Cobham telegraphs from Darwin:— Australia at last and .although lie is not half way on the round trip it was with a feeling of great satisfaction that we circled oVer Darwin after a five hundred miles flight direct from Koerpang over the open sea. Such a flight was a. very lonely task, and we were a little anxious when the allotted time passed on the calculated compass course dud land was not in sight. However, after five and a hour hours, Bathurst Island came into sight. Wo have been over a month in getting to Australia, leaving Rochester at dawn 30th June and on that day wo covered twelve 'hundred miles over France, the Mediterranean to Naples. Had that, speed been kept up we would have been in Australia, some weeks ago, but many misfortunes were in store for us. After delays we reached Mesopotamia and when descending to Baghdad it was like going into a hot oven and tho sudden change from the cool upper air made us feel suffocated. Next day was tragic, for then poor Elliot was shot, the. bullet passing through the side of the aeroplane and petrol pipe before striking him. We were flying low a the time owing to a dust storm and I heard the explosion. I thought something was wrong with the machine, but it was from an Arab’s rifle a. few feet below. It was a great shock when Elliot died and I felt, like abandoning the flight. However, I decided to carry on and do the survey work on the way out and not worry unduly about speed, hut find out the possibilities cf different seaplane air lines on the route. Wo purposely flew through the monsoon period in order to find out whether regular air routes could possibly be maintained in the monsoon period and we feel convinced tint with a properly organised air route, with wireless communication for forward weather reports, we should have no difficulty in maintaining regularity. We feel sure that within the next five years there will be a chain of air lines from Britain to Australia. The delay at Buiulerabbas was caused by a heavy gale. We had to beach the machine and stay up all night, fire nights running, to refloat it at high tide and beach again when the tide went out. Then on the way to Delhi we encountered terrifio sandstorms, -md great heat. From hero onwards we got into the’ monsoons but managed to fly between tlie storms to ' Calcutta. Then we struck worse weather and the strip to Rangoon was the worst of all. there being practically no visibility. We doubted wlicth‘er an air cooled engine would carry on in such a deluge but it seemed to make no difference. Finally we had to land in a creek and enquire our whereabouts from a passing steamer with a native captain who had no maps and ho could not rend mine, but I found out where lie came from and where he was going. I thus knew our .position and twenty minutes later landed at Rangoon at last. After more delay I reached Batavia and flew along the Java Coast in dclio -tfnl weather. Many times we flew low over whales and sometimes swordfish and 1 tried to photograph the ocean bed through the transparent water. Continued the journey to Bima where I saw two live dragons, being two prehistoric reptiles captured from the Island of KomodqfS. This is the only place in the world where these dragons are found. They are terrible creatures that tear their prey to pieces with claws and swallow everything whole. When annoyed they spit fort'll vile odours like the legendary dragon. We had another good flight to Koepnnrr niostlv over the sea. The rente was^discovered ideal with a seaplane base nearby at Dolphin Bay. Comparing our flight with that of Sir Ross Smith, the knowledge gained o„ !,oth should make excellent survey material because both'unvo been clone at opposite seasons of the year and one on an airplane and one on a seaplane. We hone to start oil the return flight as soon as the madliine is overhauled in Melbourne, and fly as quickly a» possible and safe to complete the air route survey and flying propaganda.