MISS BATTEN TO TAKE OFF TO-DAY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 20, 19 October 1937, Page 9

MISS BATTEN TO TAKE OFF TO-DAY

First Stage Of Flight

PRECAUTIONS FOR TIMOR SEA CROSSING By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received October IS, 10.25 p.m.) Darwin, October 18. Arrangements have been made for the Government patrol boat Larrakia to stand by while Miss Jean Batten is crossing the Timor Sea to-morrow. The Larrakia has proceeded 100 miles across the sea and will remain there until Miss Batten is reported safely across. The Dutch authorities have agreed to have seaplanes on the other side in readiness for an emergency. Miss Batten will take off, weather permitting, at 6 a.m. The “Sydney Morning Herald,” reports a Sydney message, says that circumstances are conspiring toward the almost simultaneous start from opposite ends of the earth of two attempts on a solo flight record between England and Australia by Mr. H. E. Broadbent and Miss Jean Batten. At the week-end Mr. Broadbent was preparing his plane at Hanworth Aerodrome, England, for a bop-off “in a couple of days” for Australia. Miss Batten’s plans for an earlier start from Darwin have been upset by the excessive oil consumption of her plane on the flight to Darwin, and the engine is to be overhauled before she leaves for London.

The two record-breaking aspirants should therefore pass one another about midway in their flights.

Miss Batten during her stay at Darwin is a guest at Government House.