FROM LONDON TO AUSTRALIA BY AEROPLANE 



297 



tank with petrol had to be carried out be- 

 fore we could seek rest. This took from 

 three to four hours ; and as we had a 

 flight of 750 miles to do in order to reach 

 Delhi next day, it was necessary for us to 

 put 369 gallons of "shell" into the ma- 

 chine. This petrol was in four-gallon 

 tins, which meant that we had to handle, 

 lift up, and filter ninety tins, or well over 

 a ton of petrol (see page 233). 



NO ROMANCE IN POURING PETROL 



My brother and I generally filled the 

 tanks, while Bennett and Shiers worked 

 on the engines. It was not much fun, 

 after piloting the machine for eight and 

 a half hours in the air, to land with the 

 knowledge that we had to lift a ton of 

 petrol, besides doing innumerable small 

 jobs, before we could go off to rest. 



In addition, we had to run the gauntlet 

 of functions and ceremonies, and it was 

 difficult to make folk understand that 

 work had to be done. We deeply ap- 

 preciated every one's generous kindness, 

 but I fear that on some occasions people 

 must have thought me very discourteous. 



The first news that greeted us on land- 

 ing at Karachi was gratifying. Poulet 

 was at Delhi, only a day's flight in the 

 lead ! This was a great surprise, for we 

 fully expected that he would be well on 

 his way to Singapore. From now on- 

 ward added zest would be given to the 

 flight, for I intended to pursue the chase 

 in keen earnest. Already I considered 

 the race as good as won, for the Vimy 

 was superior both in speed and range. 



We had hoped for a good rest at 

 Karachi, but the local Royal Air Force 

 officers had arranged a dinner, and it 

 was not before "the very witching hour" 

 that we turned to bed. Three hours and 

 a half later we were called to continue 

 the flight. This was to be the longest 

 non-stop we had undertaken. Nine 

 hours' flight should land us in Delhi, 750 

 miles away. 



ABOVE THE INDUS 



After circling above the aerodrome we 

 turned east, heading straight into the 

 golden sun that was just rising above the 

 horizon. A low ground haze that changed 

 into a golden mist as the sun mounted 

 higher hid the earth from view. Pass- 



ing over Hyderabad, the vapors rolled 

 away and we had a grand view of the 

 River Indus. Once more we entered 

 the monotony of the desert. For the 

 next three hours we flew steadily on- 

 ward, pursuing the railroad track across 

 the dreary Sind Desert. 



It was a joy to reach Ajmere, a de- 

 lightful little city, beautifully situated in 

 a basin of green hills. The country be- 

 yond is for the most part flat — a vast 

 verdant carpet irrigated from the great 

 rivers. Practically from the time we had 

 reached the African coast, when on our 

 way to Cairo, the flight had been across 

 deserts or desolate lands. Now the new 

 prospect that opened ahead invited and 

 attracted. 



During the afternoon flying conditions 

 became very boisterous, and the turbu- 

 lent atmosphere tossed the Vimy about 

 like a small vessel in a heavy sea. This 

 I also accepted as a welcome diversion, 

 for the flights of the past few days had 

 cramped me in one position, and now I 

 was kept actively on the move keeping 

 the machine straight and fighting the 

 air-pockets and bumps into which we 

 plunged and fell. 



DELHI IN THE DISTANCE 



We first noticed Delhi from fifty miles 

 distance — a white streak in a haziness of 

 green plain. Quickly details became ap- 

 parent, and soon the streak had germi- 

 nated into a considerable town. 



I circled above Delhi to allow the 

 people to see our machine, which had 

 established a record by arriving thirteen 

 days after leaving London — a distance of 

 5,870 miles. We climbed crampily out 

 of the machine and were welcomed by 

 General McEwan, the Royal Air Force 

 chief in India, and many other old 

 friends. 



I regretted that I was quite unable 

 to reply to their kindly expressions, as I 

 did not hear them. The roar of the ex- 

 hausts for nine consecutive hours' flying 

 had affected my ears so that I was quite 

 deaf. 



After several hours my hearing re- 

 turned, and it was to learn that Poulet 

 had left the same morning for Allaha- 

 bad. Great excitement prevailed, for 

 one aeroplane had departed and another 



