Alcock and Brown
An excellent and detailed account of the flight can be read at "The Aviation History On-Line Museum".
Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown
Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown
Were mechanics also on the Alcock and Brown flight? Ross and Keith Smith's Vimy had Bennett and Shiers on board as well, and their extraordinary bravery is often overlooked.
"All things considered, the Vimy was a mechanical piece of crap. Lindbergh's aircraft was mechanically and aerodynamically superior to the Vimy".
Others have replied to this and I agree with them, you only have to note the pace of developments in aviation to realise that 8 years is a long time. 10 years before A and B crossed the Atlantic, Bleriot won £1000 for being the first to fly across the English Channel.
Others have replied to this and I agree with them, you only have to note the pace of developments in aviation to realise that 8 years is a long time. 10 years before A and B crossed the Atlantic, Bleriot won £1000 for being the first to fly across the English Channel.
Mechanics would have been of limited use on board Alcock and Brown's non-stop transatlantic flight, whereas they would have earned their keep many times over on Ross and Keith Smith's 27-day, 18-stop London to Darwin marathon.
Second Lt. A. Whitten Brown 10th November 1915
Second shoot down or it might have been engine trouble depends which account you read, either way resulted in serious injuries, capture and eventual repatriation due to his injuries.
Hopefully one of these links works -
http://www.pprune.org/showthread.php...errerid=301760
Harold William Medlicott 11th Feb 1893 – 21st May 1918
Hopefully one of these links works -
http://www.pprune.org/showthread.php...errerid=301760
Harold William Medlicott 11th Feb 1893 – 21st May 1918
yes indeed, that's a considerable under-statement. Bennett and Shiers performed with immense distinction and bravery; without them the flight would not have been successful. Long story, for another day.
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If anyone wants more detail about the flight read Brown's book, Flying the Atlantic in Sixteen Hours, with a Discussion of Aircraft in Commerce and Transportation available as a free PDF at:
https://ia802609.us.archive.org/30/i...00browrich.pdf
https://ia802609.us.archive.org/30/i...00browrich.pdf
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It’s now at the transport interchange between the terminals. Unfortunately the airport don’t really significantly highlight what the statue is or why it’s there. Maybe their intention is to dedicate the whole airport to the event from 100 years ago, as the terminals to this day represent how air travel was in its infancy. Uncomfortable and expensive, filled with Edwardian technology.
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But even if not, hats off to those adventurers, most of the stuff we´re doing nowadays seems trivial compared to this endeavour.
Folks,
Thread drift I know, but in the G.O.Ds the Heathrow statue (which, in those days, was right by a heavily used security gate) was always refereed, irreverently, to as the "Sammy Davis Junior" statue.
Tootle pip!!
Thread drift I know, but in the G.O.Ds the Heathrow statue (which, in those days, was right by a heavily used security gate) was always refereed, irreverently, to as the "Sammy Davis Junior" statue.
Tootle pip!!
Brown apparently climbed out of the cockpit at night over the Atlantic to remove ice from the engine air intake
Sir Patrick Gordon Taylor, GC, OBE, MC, Australian aviator of some fame - During the 1935 Australia-New Zealand airmail flight with Charles Kingsford Smith, the starboard engine failed and the crew decided to return to Sydney, where the aircraft was buffeted by strong winds. It was decided that fuel and cargo must be jettisoned. During these conditions, Taylor made six journeys outside the cabin of the Southern Cross, climbing along the under-wing strut to drain the oil from the useless motor and transfer this to the overheating port motor. Taylor's actions, with the addition of Kingsford Smith's flying skills, resulted in the plane making its way back to land safely. Taylor was later awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for his actions, which was later exchanged for the George Cross
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While it's not known if the story is factual, the old timers certainly did pull off some amazing acts.
Sir Patrick Gordon Taylor, GC, OBE, MC, Australian aviator of some fame - During the 1935 Australia-New Zealand airmail flight with Charles Kingsford Smith, the starboard engine failed and the crew decided to return to Sydney, where the aircraft was buffeted by strong winds. It was decided that fuel and cargo must be jettisoned. During these conditions, Taylor made six journeys outside the cabin of the Southern Cross, climbing along the under-wing strut to drain the oil from the useless motor and transfer this to the overheating port motor. Taylor's actions, with the addition of Kingsford Smith's flying skills, resulted in the plane making its way back to land safely. Taylor was later awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for his actions, which was later exchanged for the George Cross
Sir Patrick Gordon Taylor, GC, OBE, MC, Australian aviator of some fame - During the 1935 Australia-New Zealand airmail flight with Charles Kingsford Smith, the starboard engine failed and the crew decided to return to Sydney, where the aircraft was buffeted by strong winds. It was decided that fuel and cargo must be jettisoned. During these conditions, Taylor made six journeys outside the cabin of the Southern Cross, climbing along the under-wing strut to drain the oil from the useless motor and transfer this to the overheating port motor. Taylor's actions, with the addition of Kingsford Smith's flying skills, resulted in the plane making its way back to land safely. Taylor was later awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for his actions, which was later exchanged for the George Cross
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While it's not known if the story is factual, the old timers certainly did pull off some amazing acts.
the under-wing strut to drain the oil from the useless motor and transfer this to the overheating port motor. Taylor's actions, with the addition of Kingsford Smith's flying skills, resulted in the plane making its way back to land safely. Taylor was later awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for his actions, which was later exchanged for the George Cross
the under-wing strut to drain the oil from the useless motor and transfer this to the overheating port motor. Taylor's actions, with the addition of Kingsford Smith's flying skills, resulted in the plane making its way back to land safely. Taylor was later awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for his actions, which was later exchanged for the George Cross
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On a lighter note: I read that the press always had some confusion as to who was who with the pair.
It was resolved by the Pilot calling from the front:
"Remember, it's Allcock in front!"
Which was followed by the Navigator adding:
"And a Brown behind!".
It was resolved by the Pilot calling from the front:
"Remember, it's Allcock in front!"
Which was followed by the Navigator adding:
"And a Brown behind!".
On that other subject, as they said in BKK, “You pilots are all the same - big watch, big cock and always pay by cheque...” Never mind - I’ve got the watch anyway.