FLIGHT BEGUN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22860, 15 October 1937, Page 11

FLIGHT BEGUN

MISS JEAN BATTEN ■ - '% SYDNEY-DARWIN STAGE TWO-WAY RECORD, SOUGHT FOUR MASCOTS CARRIED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright* (Received October 15, 1.55 a.m.) SYDNEY. Oct. 14 The young Auckland airwoman Miss Jean Batten hopped off from Richmond aerodrome at 5.55 a.m. to-day for Longreach, Queensland, on her way to Darwin, whence she will start on her flight to England. Air Force officials bade her farewell. She made a good take-off in misty weather with low clouds. She arrived at Winton, Central Queensland, at seven o'clock to-night. The, news of Mr. H. Broadbent's intention to make an attack on the record from England, has given impetus to Miss Batten's plans. She hopes to reach London before Mr. Broadbent arrives at Darwin, and thus make certain of her claim to a two-way record. Miss Batten has not set herself a fixed daily schedule. She intends to leave Darwin at 6 a.m. on Saturday and Batavia in the early hours of Sunday morning. "After that it will depend upon the weather," said the airwoman, "but I expect to snatch a few hours' sleep at Rangoon, Jodhpur, Basra, Cyprus and Rome. Miss Batten carries a supply of concentrated foods, also a revolver and ammunition. Her four, mascots, including the New Zealand'silk flag which she carried across the Tasman, are stowed away in her f.eroplane.

PRESENT RECORD MR. BROADBENT'S TRIP " DANGEROUS AND USELESS" The existing solo record for the flight from Australia to England is held by Mr. H. F. Broadbent. an Australian airman, who made the journey in 6 davs lOh 55m in April and May this year. Leaving Darwin on April 27, Mr. Broadbent made a night flight across the Timor Sea, and landed at Singapore on the morning of April 28. By May 2 he was nearing Rome, and he reached I.ympne, Kent, at 6.41 p.m. on May 3, reducing Mr. H. L. Brook's record by more than a day. "I would not do it again for world?; it is so silly," the flier said on arrival in England. "It is uncomfortable and dangerous and quite useless. Besides, I do not get anything out of the flight. It worries my wife and nobody cares anyway."

_ —_ ROUND THE WORLD MOLLISON'S PROPOSAL NEW , ROUTE TO AUSTRALIA LONDON, Oct. 7 Mr. J. A. Mollison is negotiating for financial backing for a round-the-world flight to include Australia. He proposes to fly to Brisbane from London, via Moscow, Tibet, Hanoi (French Indo-China), and Darwin. . Flying across Australia to Brisbane, the airman would then cross the Pacifio to America, and the Atlantic to England. His plans in this direction are indefinite, his principal object being to pioneer a new route to Australia. The 'route chosen represents an entirely new airway from England to Australia. It will be the first time that it has been flown. It follows more closely the great circle route than the existing air mail route between-Eng-land and Australia, and will be approximately 1000 miles less in distance. The distance from London to Darwin will be 9300 miles. The Imperial Airway® route through India and Malaya i» 10,400 miles.