Cobham, Alan John (1894-1975)

British aviator. He made many long-distance flights around the world and won the Britannia Trophy in 1923, 1925, and 1926. He later became a important pioneer in the technique of refuelling aircraft in flight.

He was commissioned in 1917 in the Royal Flying Corps. In 1920 he undertook aerial photography for the Aircraft Manufacturing Company, and in 1921 he joined the De Havilland Aircraft Company. He was created a KBE in 1926.

Flights In 1921 Cobham flew 8,000 km/4,970 mi round Europe, and in 1922 he flew 13,000 km/8,078 mi round Europe and North Africa. In June 1922 he flew from Belgrade, Yugoslavia, to London in a day. In 1923 he covered 20,000 km/12,428 mi in Europe, North Africa, and Palestine, and travelled from London to Brussels, Belgium, on a 41/2-kilowatt engine. In 1924 he flew from London to Rangoon (now Yangon, Myanmar) and back; in 1925-26 he flew from London to Cape Town, South Africa, and back; in 1926 he flew from England to Australia and back. He was commander-pilot of a flying-boat expedition which flew completely round Africa between November 1927 and May 1928.