HERBERT CUKURS' FLIGHT TO TOKYO ![]() BACKGROUND On October 21, 1936 Herberts Cukurs embarked on his second epic flight, this time to Tokyo, Japan. Once again, the destination was selected because of others' failures - at least four other aviators from other European nations had tried a similar flight and failed. This flight was much longer than his first, with stopovers in Lithuania, Germany, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, India, Burma, China, Viet Nam, Korea and, finally, Japan. The total round trip was 40,350 km (twice that of the Gambia trip) and, aside from an incident in Hong Kong, was relatively free of mechanical difficulties. The aircraft was his new C.6 "Tris Zvaigznes" (Three Stars) which he had completed in the spring of 1936. It was assigned the registration number YL-ABA and, while it was designed and built as a two-seater, he made the flight alone.    FLIGHT CHRONOLOGY
SOURCES Bruvelis, Edvins Latvijas Aviacijas Vesture Irbitis, Karlis Of Struggle and Flight "Jaunakas Zinas" November 24, 1936 "South China Morning Post" November 21, 1936 "South China Morning Post" May 26, 1937 I would like to thank R.Cukurs for translations and additional materials. Thanks also to Ian D. Johnson for providing materials pertaining to the         Hong Kong leg of the flight. Profile courtesy of A.Vercamer. |
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