PETROL SHORTAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 146, 20 May 1930, Page 7

PETROL SHORTAGE

-MISS JOHNSON IN JAVA. LANDS AT SUGAR ESTATE. WILL FLY TO SAMARANG. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received May 20, 9.55 a.m. AVELTEVREDEN, May 19. Miss Amy Johnson landed safely at a sugar estate at Tjomal, near Pekalongan (in Middle Java) owing to a shortage of petrol. Tjomal is about 200 miles east of Batavia. After flying over Tjomal at four o’clock, the English flier reappeared above the town shortly after, searching for a landing field, failing which she managed to land on a newly-cleared piece of ground intended for the new manager’s house at the sugar estate. The area was exactly large enough for landing and ascending. Miss Johnson was all and the ’plane was not damaged. The aviatrix is staying the night as tlie guest of the sugar estate manager. The manager saw Miss Johnson above the sugar factory, after which she landed most smoothly and easily, right in front of his office. Miss Johnson stepped out cheerily. She is in the best physical condition. Miss Johnson stated that she had encountered a heavy storm. She intended to make for Samarang (255 miles east of Batavia), because heavy adverse winds precluded the possibility of reaching Sourabaya. The employees of the sugar estate assisted Miss Johnson to take ill the gasoline and oil and prepare the machine for to-morrow’s flight. INSTRUCTOR’S ASTONISHMENT.

LONDON, May 18. Captain F. Matthews, who taught Miss Johnson to fly, does not disguise hie astonishment at her feat. He said in an interview to-day: “Her actual flying life prior to the flight to Australia was ninety-one hours. She quickly absorbed everything possible to learn about forced landings. Our ground engineer took her over every phase of the work of the engines’ maintenance and rigging. She passed the examination witu ease. Nobody in the club was aware of her ambition. She carried out only four cross-country flights. Tho longest was from London to Hull, a distance o 7 150 miles. FLIGHT TO SYDNEY. DOUBT EXPRESSED. SYDNEY, May 19. There is some doubt still as to whether Miss Johnson will come to Sydney from Darwin. She has cabled to friends saying that she will make her decision when she reaches Darwin. Arrangements for her reception in Sydney und Melbourne, however, are proceeding actively. Messages of congratulations and goodwill have been cabled to her by prominent women’s organisations in Australia. The Federal Government and aviation authorities will bo prominently identified in the welcome at Danvin. Six women aviators of Sydney will form an aerial escort for Miss Johnson some distance out of the city. Miss Molly Johnson told a Sunday Express representative to-day how her sister was bored with work in a solicitor’s office, and thought she would like to be an aeroplane saleswoman. She gained her certificate as a ground engineer, went home, and called a family conference. She produced a map, put a finger oil Australia, and said: “I want to fly there, and I am going to fly there.” Eventually her father surrendered, and bought the machine the daring girl is now using.