Jacques R. Hébert, from London to Sydney
Jacques R. Hébert, a largely forgotten Quebec pilot, undertook a long-distance flight from England to Australia in 1932 with a refurbished De Havilland Gipsy Moth fitted with extra tanks.
This plan restores clarity to a vast adventure: London, France, Mediterranean, Egypt, Levant, Iraq, Iran, India, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.
A Canadian long raid now largely forgotten.
One pilot, one light biplane, immense distances.
Slow, vulnerable and highly immersive.
Long legs, heat, fuel and historical airfields.
Understanding the flight
This route brings back a name overshadowed by more famous figures. Its strength lies in the contrast between aircraft fragility and route ambition.
The journey is almost a private imperial route: a chain of fields, countries and climates patiently leading toward Sydney.
Before departure
- Choose a light vintage aircraft and accept its slowness.
- Prepare long branches with fuel and forgiving weather.
- Keep a raid mindset: logbook, incidents, imagined repairs and rest days.
- On hot stages, prefer morning departures.
Suggested route
England, France and Italy
London, Lympne, Abbeville, Paris, Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Rome and Catania establish the European route.
EGLL → EGMD → LFOI → LFPB → LFGI → LFLY → LFML → LIRU → LICC
North Africa, Egypt and Levant
Tunis, Tripoli, Benghazi, Cairo, Gaza and Amman move the adventure toward the Middle East.
LICC → DTTA → HLLT → HLLB → HECA → LVGZ → OJAI
Iraq, Iran and Pakistan
Rutbah, Baghdad, Basra, Abadan, Bushehr, Jask, Gwadar and Karachi form a hot and demanding section.
OJAI → OR1J → ORBI → ORMM → OR1D → OIBB → OIZJ → OPGD → OPKC
India and Burma
Jodhpur, Delhi, Agra, Allahabad, Varanasi, Calcutta, Sittwe, Rangoon and Kengtung extend the raid toward Southeast Asia.
OPKC → VIJO → VIDD → VIAG → VIAL → VIBN → VECC → VYSW → VYYY → VYKT
Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia
Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, Sumbawa, Timor, Darwin, Cloncurry and Hughenden close the Australian adventure.
VYKT → WMKP → WMSA → WSSL → WIHH → WARR → WADD → WADB → WATT → YPDN → YCCY → YMHU
Experience tips
The pleasure lies in fragility: do not choose an aircraft that makes the adventure too easy.
Treat every country as a new set of weather, heat, fuel and terrain constraints.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2012