EXPERTS AMAZED BY MISS JEAN BATTEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 271, 15 November 1935, Page 7

EXPERTS AMAZED BY MISS JEAN BATTEN.

FLYERS SANG-FROID.

Unconcern at Ocean's Worst

Danger Spot.

NO TERRORS FOR AIRWOMAN. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11.30 a.m.) PAHIS, November 14. French experts were amazed at Miss Jean Batten's sang-froid. She did not trouble to overhaul her 'plane and did not wait to confer with four experienced French transatlantic flyers at Dakar. Her only precaution was the fitting of a new set of sparking plugs and loading an extra large supply of fuel. She was unmoved by the fact that the only land she would see was Cape Verde Islands and Fernando de Noronha rocks, between which lay what the airman calls the "black hole." This is almost the worst danger spot of any ocean crossing. Miss Batten's first words on landing were: "I will fly to Kio de Janeiro at 0 a.m. to-morrow." Her time on the transatlantic journey was 13 hours 15 minutes. The honour falls to Miss Batten of being the first woman to make the trip solo. Mrs. Lindbergh accompanied her husband on a similar flight in 1933.

TWO WORLD RECORDS.

Air Minister Compliments Flyer. MOLLISON'S TIME BETTERED. British Official Wireless. (Received 1 p.m.) RUGBY, November 14. Miss Jean Batten is the first woman to fly the South Atlantic solo, for the passage of which she ~et up a world's solo speed record. Miss Batten's achievement also represents a new record for the England to Brazil flight. Her aggregate time for the whole journey was 01 hours 15 minutes, compared with Mr. J. A. Mollison's 82 hours 8 l minutes in February, 1933. Before continuing the flight to Rio to-day she stated that she did not feel exhausted. The Minister for Air, Sir Philip Cunliffo-Lister, has telegraphed his congratulations to Miss Jean Batten at Rio de Janeiro, "on your splendid flight." Miss Batten, who continued her flight to Rio de Janeiro to-day, passed over Bahia at 3 o'clock, local time.