Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 48

aviation history
The de Havilland DH88 Comet
and the MacRobertson

RACE TO AUSTRALIA
By Jack Feir, Appraiser Fellow and ISTAT Member Emeritus

The Setting
In the mid-1930s, the British Empire was
at its peak. It had overseas dominions like
Canada and Australia, colonial holdings
throughout Africa, the whole of the Indian
sub-continent and Burma, and island possessions from the Falklands to Diego Garcia
to Bermuda. So great was its reach in those
days that it was said, "The sun never sets
on the British Empire."
In Australia, the city of Melbourne
in the state of Victoria seemed to be
in decline. It had once been Australia's
capital but that had been moved to
Canberra, and Sydney was becoming the
major industrial city in the country. To
put Melbourne back on the map, the city
fathers planned to have gala celebrations
for the 100th anniversary of the founding
of the state of Victoria, which would fall
in 1934. One of the events would be an
airplane race from Britain halfway around
the globe to Melbourne, for which plans
were started in 1933.
Ever since 1919 there had been
attempts - about 30 successful - to fly
from Britain to Australia, but it could take
weeks to get there. With new and better
airplanes, this race would probably last
only a few days.
The race was sponsored by "MacRobertson,"
who put up a trophy and cash prize. Actually,
there was no person by that name. The sponsor was Sir Macpherson Robertson, a selfmade, rags-to-riches millionaire, founder of
an Australian candy manufacturing company
that he named "MacRobertson." He was one
of the country's most generous promoters
and a philanthropist.

The Rules
The rules for the race were fairly liberal with regard to the aircraft size or

Not a replica, this is the DH88 Comet Grosvenor House, the winner of the race from Britain to
Australia, owned, restored and occasionally flown by the Shuttleworth Collection.

characteristics, other than they should
have a crew of at least two pilots. The date
for the race was set for 20 October 1934,
chosen to avoid the typhoon season in the
Far East. The racers would leave England
from Mildenhall, about 60 miles north and

48 The official publication of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading

east of London, where a new Royal Air Force
base was under construction.
The racers had to touch down on five
compulsory checkpoints, all of which,
of course, were chosen because they
were under British rule: Baghdad (Iraq),



Jetrader - Winter 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jetrader - Winter 2017

A Message from the President
Calendar/News
Q&A: József Váradi, CEO, Wizz Air
Looking Up
On the Horizon: ISTAT’s 2018 Events
Announcing: ISTAT Aviation Insights
Test in the West
Q&A: David Swan, COO, SMBC Aviation Capital
ISTAT Value Definitions
Witchcraft vs. Voodoo Power
From the ISTAT Photo Archives
Aviation History
Aircraft Appraisals
ISTAT Foundation
Advertiser Index
Advertiser.com
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Intro
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - cover1
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - cover2
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 3
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 4
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - A Message from the President
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 6
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 7
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Calendar/News
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 9
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Q&A: József Váradi, CEO, Wizz Air
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 11
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 12
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 13
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Looking Up
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 15
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 16
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 17
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 18
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 19
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 20
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 21
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 22
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 23
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 24
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - On the Horizon: ISTAT’s 2018 Events
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 26
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 27
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Announcing: ISTAT Aviation Insights
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 29
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 30
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 31
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Test in the West
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 33
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 34
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 35
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Q&A: David Swan, COO, SMBC Aviation Capital
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 37
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 38
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 39
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - ISTAT Value Definitions
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 41
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 42
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 43
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Witchcraft vs. Voodoo Power
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 45
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 46
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - From the ISTAT Photo Archives
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Aviation History
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 49
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 50
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Aircraft Appraisals
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 52
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 53
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 54
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - ISTAT Foundation
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - 56
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Advertiser Index
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - Advertiser.com
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - cover3
Jetrader - Winter 2017 - cover4
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