The Far East Flight of the Southampton Flying Boats, 1927/28

Extract

While preparing this paper from old log books, diaries, photographs, etc, I was struck not so much by the advances aviation has made in the past half-century, but by the enormous gulf that divides “flying” in those days from the present day. It is laughable for instance to record that our average speed over the ground for the whole Far East Flight was 70 kt—80 mph, the greatest height we achieved 5500 ft and we had to land for fuel 27 times between England and Singapore. It may be more efficient to be dragged through the air in a tin box at ten times that speed and height, but it is not nearly so much fun.

Another thing I realised was how the map of the world has altered in 43 years. Except for a few comparatively small gaps the whole of our flight was over British Empire territory or land dependent on it. Many of the countries we visited in 1927 would slam the door in our faces if we tried to go there in 1970.