Civilian Mid-Air Refueling?
Gnome de PPRuNe
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If I recall aright, there is some description of the trials in Neville Shute's autobiog "Sliderule". Time to read it again...!
A30yoyo is correct. The caption for the same picture on page 66 of "In Hampshire's Skies" by Colin Cruddas:
Another picture on the same page implies that Cobham's co-pilot for the record attempt was S/L Bill Helmore.
On 22 September 1934, Sir Alan Cobham attempted to fly non-stop from Portsmouth to Karachi. His first air-to-air refuelling contact was made directly after takeoff from a Handley Page W10. A disconnected throttle linkage later caused Cobham's Courier to force land in Malta and the record attempt was not continued.
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Further India Four Two's posting.
In another Colin Crudas book, 'In Cobhams' Company', the same photo is on page 48.
There is confirmation that the co-pilot was indeed Sqd. Ldr. later Air Com. Bill Helmore.
The Handley Page W10 crashed after carrying out the 1st refuelling that same day, killing all 4 on board.
In another Colin Crudas book, 'In Cobhams' Company', the same photo is on page 48.
There is confirmation that the co-pilot was indeed Sqd. Ldr. later Air Com. Bill Helmore.
The Handley Page W10 crashed after carrying out the 1st refuelling that same day, killing all 4 on board.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Oddly enough, almost an identical picture, although from the other side, is in "Wonders of World Aviation", a book from the late thirties. The tanker in this case is G-EBMR, another W10. The book also gives the endurance record of 420 hours, set in 1929 in a Ryan Brougham. Forty-eight tanker contracts. Has this record ever been beaten, and why would anyone want to do it?
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Herod
I believe the the absolute record was set by a Cessna 172 using ground/air refuelling without landing. The flight apparently lasted for 64 days, 22 hours, 19 minutes and 5 seconds, having taken off on 03 Dec 1958 and landed on ot Feb 1959. Like you said, who would want to try and beat that?
The book also gives the endurance record of 420 hours, set in 1929 in a Ryan Brougham
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I'll bet the inside of that 172 was a bit "ripe" by the end of it. Looking at Google, the aircraft only had one seat and one set of controls, the pilots doing four-hour stints. The oil system was routed through the cabin, so they could change filters in flight. Food and water were uplifted from the ground, and I assume the "honey bucket" was disposed of the same way. Amazingly, there is a team talking of beating the record. The plot was to fly in 2011, but it all seems to have gone quiet since.
Last edited by Herod; 6th Mar 2014 at 20:50. Reason: Extra info found