JEAN BATTEN LEAVES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21906, 6 October 1936, Page 9

JEAN BATTEN LEAVES

START of flight to new ZEALAND

MARSEILLES THE FIRST

STOP

HOPES of HALVING RECORD

TO AUSTRALIA

(CSIISO PSSS3 ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.)

(Received October 5, 9.50 p.m.)

LONDON, October 5>

Jean Batten took off from &e Lympne aerodrome at 4.10 a.m. ,}n brilliant moonlight on the first stage of her flight to New Zealand. Reports indicated that the weather , WO uld be favourable as far as Italy, where there was heavy cloud at 1000 "I wish I could have stayed for the presentation of the Johnston trophy on November 2, but that would have delayed me a month, and I would have been obliged to fly through the monsoon.” said Miss •Ratten. “I hope to fly back to London for the Coronation.” Miss Batten climbed into the cockorf clad in a heavy brown coat and a white flying suit, under which she wore a green jumper, which she described as her lucky colour. Earlier she packed aboard the machine a full wardrobe of frocks and several gets of underwear, carefully stowing,them from possible contact with grease or oil. She intends to fly to Cyprus after Marseilles, and will then follow her former route. Discussing her plans yesterday, Miss Batten said; “I intend to make my first stop at Marseilles, where I will take on a full load of petrol, 155 gallons. I hope to halve my Australian record, I shall wear my lucky New Zealand flag as a muffler, as I have done on all my flights.”

HIGH AVERAGE SPEED

ARRIVAL AT MARSEILLES

(Received October 6, 12.55 a.m.)

MARSEILLES, October 5

' Miss Batten arrived at 8.26 a.m. •fid left at 9.3 a.m. Her average speed was 150 miles an hour. She hopes to reach Athens at 4 p.m.