Non-Stop to India

On 22 September 1934, Sir Alan Cobham attempted to fly from Portsmouth, England to Karachi, India without stopping.

Sir Alan Cobham’s Airspeed Courier being refuelled by a Handley Page W.10 during his attempted non-stop flight to India

Cobham’s Airspeed Courier aeroplane would be refuelled by aeroplane tankers along the journey using an early form of in-flight refuelling.

Cobham successfully refuelled twice when disaster struck. His throttle became loose and he had no control over the engine. Without power Cobham managed to glide his aeroplane into a safe landing.

Despite the abrupt ending of the flight, Cobham successfully proved the potential of in-flight refuelling to long distance aviation