6 days ago
From the archive: To Zurich and back in 14 hours
From The Times: May 30, 1925
Mr Alan Cobham, the airman, flew from Croydon to Zurich and back yesterday in the new De Havilland Moth aeroplane in 13hrs 49min, at an average speed of 74.5 miles an hour.
Leaving Croydon a few minutes after dawn, the airman reached Zurich after just over six hours' flying. After an interval of three-quarters of an hour he started on his return journey, which occupied 7-8 hours. The speed on the outward journey was 82 miles an hour and on the return 64 miles an hour, but Mr Cobham had to contend with a strong head wind on the homeward flight.
The Moth, otherwise known as the De Havilland 60, has a maximum speed of 93 miles an hour, but Mr Cobham did not attempt to force the engine to its utmost capacity. When he landed, after accomplishing what he set out to do — to fly to Switzerland and back in a day — he looked little the worse for his great physical effort. His only complaint was that he was stiff through sitting for such a long time in one position.
In conversation with a representative of The Times, Mr Cobham said: 'Going out it was a cross-wind and fairly comfortable, but coming back there was a three-quarters head wind. This necessitated my flying at about 100ft above the ground level during much of the time. Coming across the Channel, however — which, by the way, I did in 20 minutes — it was quite comfortable, and the machine only bumped when I got inland again.
'I was cruising all the time really at about 75 miles an hour. I could have done the journey much quicker if I had been inclined to force the machine to run about 90 miles an hour. It is significant that an express train takes two days, travelling night and day, to do the same journey as I have done. My petrol consumption was four gallons an hour, and the cost of fuel and oil amounts in all to £4 12s. The Moth goes exceedingly well in the air. For the purpose for which it is intended it is admirable. People don't want intricate machines; they want something simple, and the Moth is certainly this.'
Asked about the price of the machines, Mr Cobham would not commit himself, but predicted that, if produced on a large scale, they could be bought at about £150 each.
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