JEAN BATTEN

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1936, Page 5

JEAN BATTEN

BEATS SOLO RECORD Five Days 21 Hours (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) DARWIN, October IlMiss Jean Batten has broken the solo record from England to Australia. She landed here at 10.50 a.m. loeai time, making her total flying Timo fix dav s 21 hours. The previous record, =et bv Mr H. F. Broadbent, lust November, was six days 21 hours 19 mmA,' large crowd waiting at aerodrome was thrilled when Miss Batten’s machine came down with a rush, narrowlv missing a hangar It swuim round ’violently, one brake appearing to seize. She was delighted with the success of her exploit, ano !hc warmth of her recept on. Miss Batten said: “I am feeling tired. .1 have had only seven hours sleep in five davs, plus six at Koepang. lam booking forward to Dying home to Xow Zealand." . Describing her trip, Miss Batten .aid: In contrast to the dreadful conditions I met in my 1934 Hight, the weather this time was perfect, a - everythin" was straight sailing, except for a'littTe difficulty and wetness over \lor Star. It was not serious really, but for the time 1 could hardly see anvthing through heavy ram. I was afraid I would never make a landni„. i“The machine was tossing someIwhat. so J was relieved when I Hund /myself within striking distance of the aerodrome at Tenang. I put the machine down, refuelled, and set off to Singapore. “The only other excitement worth rnention'ng was a sandstorm over Persia. Flying m a sandstorm' can be a terrifying experience. Vis bilitv doesn’t exist, and grit can be dangerous. However, I didn't waste anv time before climbing to get out of it.' At 10.000 feet, I was m a clear atmosphere. “When I started [his flight, L ’vva> secretly hoping to break the record, but didn’t like to say so too definitely Tt wns not until I was halfway that j knew I had a good chance. The greatest battle was with sleep. Il have been flying every night since leaving London.' and I have no relish for attempting a night flight across Australia. On landing a t Darwin, I discovered just in time there was no flu ci in the cylinder of the left brake. This brake needs repairs. Aliss Batten intended to take off immediately for Camooweal, ami when the Quanta? mechanics were unable to repair her weak brake, because they had first to attend to two Quanta? mail machines, she su’d: “I will fix it nivself.” She begun stripping the brakes but discovered the repairs would take some time, mid decided to stay the night at Darwin. She hopes to 'reach Svdnev on Tuesday. DARWIN. October 12.

Jean Batten worked on the brakes herself, yesterday afternoon, but she retired to bed soon after nightfall absolutely tired out. Her programme is to reach Charlevllle to-night and then flv direct to Sydney to-morrow.

MISS BATTEN LEAVES DARWIN DARWIN, October 12. Aliss Batten left here at 6 a.m. today. She intends to stay overnight at Cua rleville. Her Tasman Flight AUSTRALIAN AUTHORITIES OBJECT. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) DARWIN, October 12. Jean Batten said, “I am going to flv to mv home in New Zealand.’ 'aIELBOURNE. October 12. The Civil Aviation Department intends to try to prevent Jean Batten crossing the Tasman in a single engine machine. The Acting-Controller-General stated that the Civil Aviation Board would stop Jean .Batten’s flight to New Zealand, if it could, and would make a recommendation to the Alin ster. WHAT MR BATTEN THINKS. AUCKLAND, October 12. “Tl don’t say yes and I won’t say no,” sa'd Air F. H. Batton, when asked If he thought that hi? daughter should risk the Tasman flight. “I wouldn’t like to see her do anything I was not game to try, and T would think a long time before I tried that. I don’t think that anything will stop her, and, with good weather. I have every confidence that she could do the trip in about eight hours. I will be very proud to welcome her here—whether she comes in a ’plane or in a steamer.” BROADBENT’S GOOD WISHES. SYDNEY, October 12. 11. F. Broadbent, whose record Aliss Batten has beaten, declared that he probably will attempt to regain it within the next twelve months. Aleanwhile, he was delighted over her achievement, ano he hoped she would get through to New Zealand, and thus tie the first woman to fly from London to the Dominion. Broadbent said the risk of engine failure was not serious, but it was essential that she should study the weather conditions. FLIGHT CANNOT BE STOPPED. (Aus & N.Z. Cable Assn.) AIELBOURNE, October 12. The Acting-Controller of Civil Aviation savs that, although the Board regards'Aliss Batten’s Tasman flight as hazardous, and one which should be discouraged, they have no power to prevent it. MACHINE CERTIFIED FOR TASMAN! SYDNEY. October 12. The Civil Aviation Board, while discouraging Aliss Batten’s Tasman hop, announces that it has no power to stop it, owing to her machine having a British certificate of airworthiness, which tne Commonwealth must recognise

What Experts Think

TASMAN TOO DANGEROUS. AUCKLAND. October 12. Air Beau Shiel, the former associate of the late Sir Charles Kingsford

Smith, said; “It's suicidal |o attempt the Tasman crossing in a single-engine machine —just crazy! This is how Kingsford Smith met his death. If the engine stops, all the skill in the world won’t prevent disaster. In her own interests, Aliss Batten should be discouraged from this attempt.” Air John Stannage was enthusiastic over Aliss Batten’s ability and courage, but he was apprehensive. He staid: “It’s a. hit and miss job —a riskv flight. There are thousand's of little things that can go wrong with an engine. She ought to stop IIOW at the height of her fame.” ANOTHER OBJECTOR N.Z. AERO CLUB PRESIDENT. WELLINGTON, October 12. y[ r c C. Weinstein. President of the New Zealand Aero Club is emphatic that Miss Batten should abandon the Tasman project. “I don’t think she should attempt the flight,” he. said. “I strongly agree with Air She'll and Air Stannage. Unfortunately. I am afraid, nothing will stop her —not even a ban hy the Australian Government, because she has accomplished a longer flight in the same machine. She would \ not lose any prestige by abandoning tne Hight. In fact, she would show good judgment.” GATTY’S OPINION. “SHE SHOULD BE STOPPED” WELLINGTON, October 12.2 ‘‘She should be stopped,” said Air. Harold Gatty, the representative in New Zealand of the Pan-American Airways, and navigator to the late Wilev Post on his first world flight, when invited to express his opinion. Mr Gatty is visiting Wellington. ‘‘The Tasman should be crossed on multi-engined aircraft, with a proper crew,” he said. “She should not fly a si'ti”ie-engine plane and solo across the Tasman Sea. It was all right when we had to do it, and she should not do it. There is nothing to be gained.” Mr G-attv said Aliss Batten’s England—Australia effort was “a very nice flight.” MR LYONS’ CONGRATULATIONS'. CANBERRA. October 12. Mr Lyons has sent the following telegram to Jean Batten:—“Heartiest congratulations on your further magnificent achievement.” PRESS TRIBUTES. SYDNEY, October 12. The “Herald” in a leader says: Jean Batten’s performance puts her among the foremost of the world’s air pilots, During the five days’ flight from England. "she allowed herself only seven hours’ sleep. This also must be a record in endurance. Her dauntless courage she has proved over and over aga'n. She has now assured international renown and will carry with her the whole world’s best wishes for success in the final stages of the flight from' England to New Zealand, which will be the longest Empire flight on record. It may be expected that the Australian and New Zealand Governments will make every effort to assure that she does not want for encouragement and assistance for that last venturesome sea passage. The “Labour Daily,” under the head'ng “Unbeaten Batten,” says; And so Jean Batten, the wonder girl flier has triumphed again. Two years ago she was just an ordinary aviatrix with enough determination and ambition for a dozen, and now she is sitting on the top of the world. “The Sun” in an editorial, after pointing out that because of no official recognition. Kingsford Smith and Ulm had to keep on stunting says: Consider Jean Batten. Here in her early twenties, is a girl whose knowledge and flair would be of benefit to civil aviation in New Zealand, her Alother Country, or Australia her closest relative. Jean Batten is the Lindbergh of New Zealand. Perhaps New Zealand will lead the way. Perhaps a mans.ze job in aviation will l>e given to a woman, then there will bo no more need to barnstorm, no more need to bait Scylla and Charybdis no more need to endanger without reason a magnificent voting life LONDON, October 11. Under the heading. “Bravo, Bonny Jean,” the “Daily Mail” says: There must be heroic stuff in Jean Batten, bn! she possesses more than pluck. She has superb skill, and brackets her with Amy Alollison, as a classic pilot. The time is not distant when two or three days’ flighst to the southern Dominions will be commonplace. (Received October 12. 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, October 11. The “Daily Telegraph” says: “No man can expect to surpass Miss Batten’s courage and perserve,ranee. Alien may wel? be content to equal such a pilot in skill and endurance.” THE MONOSPAR MISHAP. SYDNEY. October 12. There is no possibility of the crew of Lord Sempill’s Alonospar being transferred from the Nimoda to the Orion i n the Ind'an Ocean, as the Orion is too near Fremantle. DARWIN, October 12. In reply to the allegations that the crew of the Alonospar had been misled by wrong wireless bearings, E. B. Bunting, Civil Aviation Department representative at Darwin, said that the criticism seemed to have been made in order to justify the errors made by the Monospar’s navigator. LONDON, October 11. Bjoerkvall landed at Valencia, and flew io Liverpool, with a portion of the Bellanca’s wing as a momento. CAPETOWN, October 10. “Unlucky” Smith says his failure in the air race was caused by tampering with his machine. He alleges that when he made a forced landing in Salonika, he found stuff like chewing gum in the oil pipe. Smith also says that Flight-Lieuten-ant Rose’s and Major AliJler’s aeroplanes were .similarly tampered with and urges an investigation. LONDON, October LI. “Tt is rid’culous to suggest that Smith’s machine was sabotaged,” said Captain Coath, manager of the Portsmouth airport. “The machines were most carefully guarded day and night.” LONDON, October 10. Negotiations are progressing between the Turkish Government and British aeroplane manufacturers for the supply of British aircraft to the Turkish air force. Hitherto Turkey has mostly used French and American machines. An official at the Turkish Embassy in London, admitted that the negotiations followed King Edward’s recent visit to Turkey. t NEW YORK, October 10. I The Washington correspondent of