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Sir Alan John Cobham

(1894-1973), Pioneer aviator

Sitter in 29 portraits
Cobham joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and was commissioned as an instructor. After the war he worked for De Havilland as a test pilot, and made his name in long-distance flights to Rangoon, Burma (present-day Yangon, Myanmar, 1924), the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa (1925-6) and Australia (1926), establishing air routes for Imperial Airways. From the 1930s he pioneered the development of in-flight refuelling, and set up a company to develop its potential. As a taxi-pilot giving commercial 'joyrides', and through his air display company of 1934, he spread interest in aviation and contributed to the popularisation of air travel. He wrote several books including an autobiography, A Time to Fly (1978).

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Sir Alan John Cobham, by Alexander ('Alick') Penrose Forbes Ritchie - NPG D2665

Sir Alan John Cobham

by Alexander ('Alick') Penrose Forbes Ritchie
colour relief halftone cigarette card, 1926
NPG D2665

Sir Alan John Cobham, by Unknown photographer, issued by  Carreras Tobacco Company - NPG D49310

Sir Alan John Cobham

by Unknown photographer, issued by Carreras Tobacco Company
colour relief halftone cigarette card, 1935
NPG D49310

Web image not currently available

Sir Alan John Cobham

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 30 October 1947
NPG x79354

Web image not currently available

Sir Alan John Cobham

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 30 October 1947
NPG x79355

Web image not currently available

Sir Alan John Cobham

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 30 October 1947
NPG x79356

Web image not currently available

Sir Alan John Cobham

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 30 October 1947
NPG x79357

Web image not currently available

Sir Alan John Cobham

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 30 October 1947
NPG x79358

Web image not currently available

Sir Alan John Cobham

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 30 October 1947
NPG x79359

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