Mrs Bruce, the mysterious flight
Mildred Mary Petre Bruce left Heston on 25 September 1930 in a Blackburn Bluebird IV, with little flying time, maps, an extra tank and extraordinary willpower. Five months later she returned to England after linking Europe, Asia, Japan, North America and the Atlantic by ship.
This plan recreates that first female aerial circumnavigation, with flying stages and ocean passages where the aircraft travelled by liner with folded wings.
A British pioneer on a world scale.
No luxury: maps, compass, endurance and courage.
Edward Cook's model is ideal if available.
Long legs, monsoon, sea crossings and return to Croydon.
Understanding the flight
The route is compelling because of Mrs Bruce as much as the geography. She is not selling an airline: she proves she can leave, endure and return.
The Pacific and Atlantic crossings are made by liner. In simulation they become chapter breaks, not flights to force artificially.
Before departure
- If you use the Blackburn Bluebird IV, accept rustic navigation without modern automation.
- Split the journey into blocks: Europe, Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, China/Japan, American west coast, United States crossing, European return.
- Keep generous fuel margins on desert and tropical sections.
- Record dates and incidents: this route is a pioneer story as much as a flight plan.
Suggested route
Europe and eastern Mediterranean
London, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Istanbul, Eskisehir and Aleppo set the eastbound departure.
EGLL → EDDM → LOWW → LHBP → LYBE → LTBA → LTBI → OSAP
Middle East, India and Burma
Baghdad, Basra, Jask, Karachi, Jodhpur, Delhi, Calcutta, Chittagong and Rangoon create the long Asian corridor.
OSAP → ORBS → ORMM → OIZJ → OPKC → VIJO → VIDP → VECC → VGEG → VYYY
East Asia and Japan
Bangkok, Khorat, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo complete the eastern crossing.
VYYY → VTBD → VVNB → VHHH → ZSAM → ZSPD → RKSS → RJAA
Pacific and American coast
A liner brings the aircraft to Vancouver, then Seattle, Medford, San Francisco, Burbank and San Diego restart the flight.
RJAA → CYVR → KSEA → KMFR → KSFO → KBUR → KSAN
United States and return to Europe
Midland, Saint Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, New Albany, Baltimore, New York, Le Havre, Cherbourg and Biggin Hill close the loop.
KSAN → KMAF → KSTL → KORD → KIND → KBWI → KLGA → LFOH → LFRC → EGKB
Experience tips
The journey benefits from imperfection: changing weather, drift, corrections and careful landings give the plan its soul.
Sea crossings by liner can be represented by a narrative pause between two sessions.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2014