FLYING ABOVE THE FOG

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 30, 10 February 1928, Page 15

FLYING ABOVE THE FOG

AEROPLANE PILOTED BY WIRELESS. The degree to which the standard Marconi wireless apparatus used on Imperial Airways machines flying between Croydon and the Continent is relied upon is shown by the experience of Captain A. S Wilcockson, an Imperial Airways pilot who, on Saturday, November 24, flew a Handley. Page Rolls Royce aeroplane from Paris to Croydon above a fog bank which obseured the ground practically the whole of the way, In spite of the denseness of the fog Captain Wilcockson completed his journey in 2 hours 24 minutes, which is a good average time for the trip from Paris to London. When he started from Le Bourget x 8 a.m. visibility was about 1000 sacu, and the weather report gave fo. iut over most of the route except for patches of clear weather near the French coast and at Biggin Hill. Five minutes after leaving Paris Captain Wilcockson found himself in dense fog and had to rise 2000 feet.,to get above it. At this height the aeroplane was flying in bright sunshine and continued to do so for the greater part of the journey. It was, however, necessary to fly entirely by compass bearing The pilot asked for several bearin«s and positions from Croydon during the journey and these brought him in on a direct line to the Croydon Aerodrome. ‘There was one break in the fog, about 10 miles from Croydon, which enabled the pilot to recognise the ground and corroborate the fact that le was on the right bearing. The fog then closed in again, and in his own words he "dropped right on to the aerodrome."’ In an interview Captain Wilcockson said that this was one of the worst fogs lie had ever experienced, but he had no doubt during the whole journey that he would get throngh in comfort as his past experience with his wireless apparatus had given him co.fidence that le could navigate on bear: ings through the fog however dens it might be. ‘I had no diflicalty at all in keeping in communication with Croydon at any time whether J was in the fog, above it, or when coming down to the acrodrome, but it would have been impossible to have made the journey without wireless," Captain Wilcockson said. "The apparatus I was using was the ordinary A.D.6 apparatus, and not any new or special apparatus, as has been reported." There were five passengers on the machine. They had a very happy and comfortable journey, and were quite thrilled with their novel experience.