This is an exciting novel based on an historical event. Familiar as Alan Cobham was with long distance flights, the idea of flying from England to Australia and back in a small seaplane offered a new and dangerous adventure, added to which he wanted to experience flying in the Monsoon period, so testing the route during the worst weather.

Sergeant Arthur Ward, my Uncle, an engine mechanic in the Royal Air Force, became Alan Cobham's flight engineer for the flight to Australia and back to England. He agreed to take the place of the engineer Arthur Elliott, Cobham's regular flight engineer, who was killed in Iraq. Ward and Elliott were important for helping the pilot Cobham prove to a disinterested British Government that long distance, commercial flights, to the other side of the World were possible and important for bringing the Domains closer.

Alan Cobham who was presented with a Knighthood, by King Gorge the Fifth, after the flight had come a long way from his Veterinary days as an infantryman in charge of sick horses, during the early parts of the 1914–1918 Great War. He volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps, later to become the Royal Air Force, after being inspired by the flying machines that were flown over his head towards the battle lines during the last days of the war. He applied, was accepted and trained to fly the military aircraft available at that time. (See Cobham The Flying Years- by Colin Cruddas)

Some of the diary events of Sir Alan Cobham in his book, 'Australia and Back' published in 1927 by R & C Black (Out of print, now reproduced as "To the ends of the earth,' published by Tempus Publishing 2007) is useful in confirming what happened in parts of the journey. The Times reported, sometimes weekly, on the journey and this is in the Public Domain. In 1926 Aviation Safety Network reported that, in the world, 221 aircraft crashed and were written off. It was a risky occupation to be a pilot at that time