Sir Alan J. Cobham was an early visionary proponent of long distance commercial air transport and a leading developer of aerial refueling. He began his flying career in 1917 as an officer pilot in the British Royal Flying Corps during World War I. After leaving the Flying Corps, he founded a barnstorming business, and in the early 1920s he flew as a photography and air-route survey pilot. In 1921 he made a 5000-mile air tour of Europe, visiting 17 cities in 3 weeks. In 1924 he flew a Short Singapore flying boat around the continent of Africa, landing only in British territory. He was knighted by King George V in 1926. To demonstrate the feasibility of long-range commercial air service, he flew extensive survey flights throughout Europe and both coasts of Africa. In a further effort to promote the development of commercial aviation, Cobham organized and flew a round trip flight to Australia in 1926. He concluded this flight dramatically by returning to London and landing his float plane on the Thames River before an estimated one million people. His interest in extending the range of airplanes led to the formation of Flight Refueling, Ltd. in 1935. This company soon established an international position of leadership in the development of aerial refueling equipment and techniques.
Inducted in 1997.
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