"FLYING FARMER"

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 138, 8 December 1936, Page 6

"FLYING FARMER"

THE CASUALNESS OF SKILL

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, November 18. Mr. Ernie Clark's flight from England to New Zealand has been followed with quiet interest in London, but without the show of boisterous, enthusiasm with which Jean Batten's record was received a few weeks before. No posters flared for Mr. Clark at every corner as they did when the New Zealand airwoman reached her objective —incidentally, more than one New Zealander has heard himsell referred to recently as coming from "Jean Batten's land." Nevertheless, considerable publicity was given to the "Flying Farmer," and one> paper, the "Daily Telegraph," considered the achievement worthy of a leading article. This read: — l "There is a certain air of casualness about the latest (successful solo flight frpm, England to New Zealand which lakes the imagination. Mr. Ernie Clark was practically unknown in, the flying world when he;started from" Lympne with no very definite plan except that he meant to follow the route ' which' his countrywoman, Miss Jean Batten, had 'taken three weeks before., Everything else had to depend on the conditions which he found as he went along. ... "Obviously, a very skilful as well as courageous pilot stands revealed in: this 'Flying Farmer,' who thought that it would be an excellent way to finish up a holiday in London by flying home 'in time for the sheep-shearing,' and set off blithely on a 14,000-mile trip, though his previous longest flight had only been from England to Switzerland. Mr. Clark, by this feat, takes a place in] the goodly company of those 'who can because they think they can,' but who first assiduously practise till they master the necessary technique." !