A FAMOUS AIRWOMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21401, 27 January 1933, Page 8

A FAMOUS AIRWOMAN

WORLD'S FIRST LADY PILOT

VISIT FROM KINGSFORD SMITH[by TELEGRAPH— OWN correspondent] TAURANGA, Thursday During his visit to Tauranga Sir Charles Kingsford Smitk met Airs. H. B. Hewlett, who was the first certificated woman air pilot in the world. She received her flying ticket in 1910 and instructed a number of pilots during the war. Sho is now a resident .of Tauranga, but is not doing any flying.

Mrs. Hewlett is the widow of Mr. Maurice Hewlett, the novelist,. She came to New Zealand to live in 1928 and has since residod at Tauranga.

When she commenced to learn flying in 1910 pupils had to gain all their knowledge by experiment and experience, teaching methods not having been standardised. She was taught in France on one of the famous Farman machines and flew with many noted pioneers. When the Royal Aero Club commenced to issue certificates sho went to the Brooklands School of Flying and obtained the first certificate issued to a woman.

Two years ago Mrs. Hewlett revisited England and on her return she flew frum London to Amsterdam, then taking a Dutch air liner to Batavia, making a. journey of 11 days in the one machine It was when she,returned to Auckland that she announced that she did not intend tp take any further active part in flying.