Cobham plc's origins go back to 1934 when Sir Alan Cobham founded Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL) to investigate Air-to-Air refuelling (AAR) techniques. Founder, Alan Cobham (born 1894) had a varied early career including a stint touring the country with the Berkshire Aviation Company, giving joy-rides in a war surplus Avro 504K! In 1921, he became the first pilot for the new de Havilland Aeroplane Hire Service. Cobham established himself alongside other famous racing aviators after winning the 1924 King's Cup Air Race in a prototype DH.50. Chosen to accompany the Director of Civil Aviation Sir Sefton Brancker to India and Burma, they investigated the viability of setting up airship routes to the Far East. The conclusion was that the aeroplane, not the airship would eventually win the day. In 1926 Cobham flew from Rochester (Kent, UK) to London (UK), via Australia, and landed finally on the River Thames in front of the Houses of Parliament before an audience of one million! Alan Cobham was knighted immediately following his return to England. An aviation innovator, Cobham operated the touring airshow - 'Cobham's Flying Circus'. By 1932, skilled aerobatic pilots, wing-walkers, parachutists and novelty turns thrilled crowds across the country. In 1934, Sir Alan founded a new company; Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL), to develop air-to-air refuelling equipment (AAR) and techniques that could be employed commercially.
Many landmark events followed - 1939 saw the first non-stop AAR crossing of the Atlantic; Imperial Airways 'C' Class flying boats refuelled by FRL's Harrow tankers. In 1948 FRL was the first British private contractor to join Operation 'Plainfare' during the Berlin Airlift to which the company provided twelve aircraft. In 1948 the US Air Force used FRL 'looped hose' AAR equipment for their KB29 tanker fleet. In 1949 FRL invented the 'probe and drogue' method of AAR. 
Today, using either (or both) the British 'probe and drogue' method invented by Flight Refuelling in 1949, or the American 'boom' system introduced by Boeing, the transfer of fuel in flight - the vital link as foreseen by Sir Alan Cobham - is a commonplace feature undertaken by major air forces throughout the world. |