Longest/Shortest flight
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
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5hrs 40 in a glider (bloody freezing). I know, a mere beginner. Shortest flights would have to be the inumerable cable breaks one endures as a silent flyer.
Powered I battled a headwind and took three hours to get to Oban once. I'm sure I was going backwards some of the time, it would have been quicker to walk.
My mate's dad flew Sunderlands out of Koggala, I think you're probably the only other person that's heard of it!
Powered I battled a headwind and took three hours to get to Oban once. I'm sure I was going backwards some of the time, it would have been quicker to walk.
Western Australia to Koggala, Ceylon
thing
As someone who served at China Bay and Negombo (Katunayake) I know of it!
FWIW a bit of China Bay WWII history.
On 10-11th August 1944 31 USAAF B.29's flew from China Bay against the Palembang oil refineries in Japanese occupied Sumatra - the 3,900 miles flight from Ceylon to Palembang and back was the longest single-stage flight undertaken by USAAF combat aircraft in WWII. Only one aircraft was lost when it ran out of fuel.
Also long-range RAF B.24 Liberators and Catalinas flew supply and agent dropping missions from China Bay in support of SOE operations in Burma and Malaya.
My mate's dad flew Sunderlands out of Koggala, I think you're probably the only other person that's heard of it!
FWIW a bit of China Bay WWII history.
On 10-11th August 1944 31 USAAF B.29's flew from China Bay against the Palembang oil refineries in Japanese occupied Sumatra - the 3,900 miles flight from Ceylon to Palembang and back was the longest single-stage flight undertaken by USAAF combat aircraft in WWII. Only one aircraft was lost when it ran out of fuel.
Also long-range RAF B.24 Liberators and Catalinas flew supply and agent dropping missions from China Bay in support of SOE operations in Burma and Malaya.
Last edited by Warmtoast; 25th Jan 2015 at 22:20.
British Eagle had a service from Liverpool to Hawarden using a Viscount in the late 60s . The flight continued on to London but it was possible to buy a ticket for the LPL -HAW leg for a couple of pounds.
Jenkins , guess you mean the Shorts '' mini shed '' Skyvan , BEA Skyliner , followed by ''Shed '' 330 , and finally '' Super shed '' 360 . All great to shelter behind in a crosswind , and mostly nicknamed Vomit Comets by deadheading crews .
Aye condor .
Aye condor .
The then Flt Lt Ted Hawkins won a DFC for a flight of some 23 hours in a Catalina to somewhere north of the Arctic Circle - will have to look up details again
The award of DFC was for an extended flight to Russia in April 1942.
April 4/42
Catalina Z2143, F/Lt Hawkins, P/O Wright, Sgt Semple, Sgt Aston, Sgt Beverly and Sgt Faulkes. Special Flight. Took off 05:05 hrs 4th, landed 06:55 hrs
5th.
Ted Hawkins was awarded a bar to his DFC for sinking an Italian submarine on 9 June 1942
The award of DFC was for an extended flight to Russia in April 1942.
April 4/42
Catalina Z2143, F/Lt Hawkins, P/O Wright, Sgt Semple, Sgt Aston, Sgt Beverly and Sgt Faulkes. Special Flight. Took off 05:05 hrs 4th, landed 06:55 hrs
5th.
Ted Hawkins was awarded a bar to his DFC for sinking an Italian submarine on 9 June 1942
Last edited by Wander00; 26th Jan 2015 at 11:45. Reason: Update, again
