RAF Far East Flight

The RAF Far East Flight, of the Royal Air Force (RAF), was a flying unit of four Supermarine Southampton II flying boats which undertook a long-range exploratory flight to Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong between October 1927 and January 1929. Having completed this journey the aircraft remained at Singapore and the Flight was redesignated No. 205 Squadron RAF, the first RAF unit to be permanently based there.

During the 1920s the RAF carried out a number of long-distance flights to explore air-routes and facilities and test the feasibility of long-range reinforcement of more distant parts of the British Empire. The RAF's first international long-range cruise by flying boats was to Egypt in July 1926. The success of that trip paved the way for subsequent longer journeys and the Far East Flight was formed to undertake a journey to Australia and the Far East starting in 1927. The project’s publicised aims were to gain experience with the operation of flying boats independent of surface vessels and shore bases, gather information the suitability of locations along the route for flying boats, and to ‘fly the flag’; fostering cooperation between Britain and her Empire.

The Flight covered approximately 23000 miles (37000 km) from Felixstowe to Singapore, around Australia and back to Singapore between 17 October 1927 and 18 September 1928. A further 4500 miles (7241 km) were flown on the final leg, a return trip from Singapore to Hong Kong in November and December 1928.

Five new metal-hulled Supermarine Southampton II flying boats were assigned to the Flight. Aircraft S1149, S1150, S1151 and S1152 were delivered to Felixstowe in September 1927, and these four competed the Felixstowe-Singapore-Australia-Singapore legs of the cruise. The fifth aircraft, S1127, was shipped as a spare to Singapore. This aircraft replaced S1149 for the final Singapore-Hong Kong leg on Air Ministry instructions.

The aircraft were prepared with a number of modifications from standard specification. Hulls and wingtip floats were finished with white enamel and larger engine radiators, oil tanks and top-plane fuel tanks were fitted. In addition, there were internal changes to provide more space and support facilities for the crew, who had to live on board for periods during the trip. Metal, instead of wooden, airscrews were fitted to the aircraft during the flight. Specially designed collapsible rubber dinghies were also carried. No automatic pilots or blind flying aids were fitted, and only two of the four aircraft had radio sets – communication between aircraft in the air being by lamp or hand-signals.

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Wikipedia