AERIAL TRAIL

Northern Advocate, 6 May 1930, Page 5

AERIAL TRAIL

MISS JOHNSON’S VENTURE TAKE-OFF FOR AUSTRALIA. OUT TO EXCEL HINKLER. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received 8.3 a.m.) LONDON, May 5. Thorp Avas quid} interest in the start of the solo flight from England to Australia of Miss Amy Johnson, 22 years of ago, who was the first woman to qualify for (the Air Ministry's license as a ground engineer.

Miss Johnson loft Croydon this morning in brilliant sunshine. A small group of friends gave her a cheering farewell.

Miss Johnson is a slim, attractive girl, with bobbed hair and a constant

smile. Most careful preparations jliave been made.

•She intends to fly in hops of 1000 miles per day. Bhe admitted she hoped to lower Mr Bert Hinkler'a record.

A reserve petrol tank is installed in front of the passenger cockpit. The total capacity of the machine is 80 gallons, which is expected to' ensure a flight of 1400 miles, which is nearly four times the normal range of Gypsy Moths. Miss Johnson said: ”Thc flight is the outcome of a long cherished ideal. I now hold an engineer’s and a pilot’s ticket, and feel confident I will be able to meet any emergency.” Miss Johnson carried only a few sandwiches and a packet of chocolate in the way of food. She hoped to reach Vienna tonight. ■She has a parachute strapped to her back and a spare propeller lashed to the fuselage.

FIRST STAGE FINISHED. (Received 3 p.m.) VIENNA, May 5. Miss Amy Johnson, in pursuance of her flight to Australia, arrived here this evening. SMITH-SHIERS FAILURE. PROJECT ABANDONED. RETURN BY STEAMER. (Received 8.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 5. Advice has been received that Mr Dave Smith (pilot), and Mr W. H Shiers (mechanic), who attempted a flight,.from Australia to England and crashed hear Bangkok, are returning to Sydney by steamer. HINKLER PROPOSAL. AUSTRALIA AGAIN. (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, May sth. Mr Bert Hinkler is proposing to begin a flight to Australia this week in a monoplane amphibian of his own design. Mrs Hinkler may accompany him.

SPEEDIER TRANSIT. PASSENGERS AND MAILS. DUTCH EAST INDIES SERVICE. (Received 8.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 5. Representatives of a Dutch company who have arrived in Sydney announce that,a passenger and air mail service between the Dutch East Indies and Australia is commencing at the end of the year. The time occupied by Australian mails reaching Britain and Europe will thus be halved. Huge Pokker aeroplanes, which will each carry a ■ton of mails and 12 passengers, will be used for the flight between Sourabaya aud Darwin, which will occupy about five hours, and from Darwin to Sydney about, four days. HORRIBLE DEATH. NOTED PARACHUTIST. (Received 12.50 p.m.) PARIS, May 5. Danger, the well-known parachutist, when making his seventy-eighth descent from an aeroplane at Gelderm, failed to securely fasten the body belt. Ho became detached from the parachute in mid-air and fell like a stone to earth, meeting a horrible death in the sight of 1000 spectators.