Sir Alan Cobham made a mid air refuelling test at Portsmouth in preparation for his non-stop flight to India on September 21st . His aeroplane , an ' Airspeed Courier ' is a monoplane fitted with a 240 Hp Armstrong Siddeley ' Lynx ' engine , and the refuelling was carried out by a twin engined plane , which was used as a tanker . He will be accompanied on his flight to India by Squadron Leader W Helmore , who has been granted special leave by the Air Ministry for the flight . Refuelling will be carried out enroute by a ' Victoria ' troop carrier at Alexandra airport and a ' Valencia ' at Shaiba near Banra . Photo shows Sir Alan Cobham ' s plane ' Courier ' being refuelled . 11 September 1934