MISS JOHNSON’S STORY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21053, 16 June 1930, Page 10

MISS JOHNSON’S STORY.

DESIRE FOR FLYING. LONG FIGHT FOR FAME. EARLY DAYS IN AIR. JOINING AN AERO CLUB. (Copyright.) No. V. In continuation o£ her story, Mias Amy Johnson tells how she aspired to fame as a flier and finally- achieved it ,)h the face of " penury, prejudice, and difficulty.” It all happened on my birthday. Of course, 1 cannot say on which birthday—but that is perfectly feminine, isn’t it? Many small gifts had been showered on me, but for once I longed for tokens in the form of. substantial coinage rather than trinkets. Such unusual covetousness was prompted by the arrival in Hull of a large aeroplane, and the desire was conceived of having a joy flight. Fifteen shillings was required for five .minutes’ flying, and I scraped together the astounding sum needed for 15 minutes’ ride in the air. It was a fortune to me, but the absolute thrill of flying was greater than all my shillings. In those _ few minutes of sheer joy was born that insatiable desire to be a pilot, from which, as a natural corollary, was conceived that effort to cross continents which seems to have delighted Australia. Still, I believe my advent into flying would still, have come, sooner or later, had not the memorable Hull flight occurred, for all my life seems to have been leading to it. FIGHT AGAINST OBSTACLES. Aviation always had been at the back of_ my mind, though that so marvellous initiation into flying will linger as a pleasant memory. It typifies my struggles to be a pilot and to react Australia, for it was achieved only after a stern fight against penury, prejudice, and difficulty. At the time it happened I was endeavouring to make a living by advertising work —a most deadly task .that I soon abandoned to commence work in a solicitor’s office in London. At first I was on a small job in an office, but soon roee to be a private secretary on £5 a week. Of course, everybody in Hull thought I was wonderfully well off working at such, a post in the city. ,-It was quite a distinguished jobj and for a while 1 really agreed with them. Aviation, however, had got on my mind. I read ail the books then extant on flying, but not for a moment did I think it possible for an ordinary man, much less a woman, to be able, to learn flying. It seemed a costly and exclusive occupation. .Then, one fine, Saturday afternoon, I got off work and went out in a bus for a ride. Suddenly an aeroplane flew overhead, and it went to my head. It must be remembered that aviation had not been developed to any marked extent. As it flew past I jumped on top of the bus, and waved excitedly. The passengers thought I had gone mad, I believe, and the conductor rushed up and pushed me back on to the sedt with a gruff warning. FASCINATED BY AN AEROPLANE. I jumped off the bus and ran across a field to. see it landing, because I had never seen a light machine come down in my life. V . . v Running hard, so as not to miss it, .1 came up against a huge sign—“ De Havilland Aeroplane Club. No Admittance,” it read. .That checked my impetuous dash. I was frightfully shy, and it took all my courage to walk past the sign. Then I courageously walked down to the little shed where Stag Lane’s two small machines were housed, and saw the landfascinated by the aeroplane, I sat down and stared at it, till I became consciousof many people staring at me curiously. A man walked toward me, and I took to my heels in fright. Next Saturday I was back again, and again people stared at me. One. of the instructors walked up and down in front of, me rather curiously, but he seemed kinder than the rest, so 1 took all my courage in my hands and spoke. With a quiver in my voice, I asked: “Does it cost a lot of money to fly? ’’ He laughed merrily at me. “ Not af all, girl,” he answered. “It is only three guineas entrance fee to the club, three guineas subscription, and £2 an hour to learn.” I was overjoyed, for it was all within my means. I went back to the bus skipping and jumping, dreaming I was already a pilot. LOSS OF FLYING SCHOLARSHIP.

That was in April, 1028, and I soon learned that it was not an easy matter to get into a flying club. I sent in my application, but it was utterly impossible to tain admission. All the instructor could o was to get me in as a week-day member, but I had to work all the week. Then lie I tried to admit me as a non-flying member, until T could fly; but how was I to fly? ,■ Twelve times I wrote to the secretary and waited the whole of the summer and half the autumn. Unfortunately I had no influence, and hundreds got in before me.

In desperation I bearded the secretary in his den—a terrible thing to. do. Still, I was terribly anxious to join up, for about that time Lady Heath was offering scholarships of £SO each, and the London Aeroplane Club had been offered one of them. To win that £SO would have been a godsend to me. Scheming rather shrewdly; I offered my services to the Air League of the British Empire, and did some typing. I tried to do everything possible to get into the front line for the scholarship, and then photographs were published of the winning lady. The loss of that £SO was so discouraging, but I was undeterred, and. at last, in October, 1928. secured admission to the club. FLIGHT WITH INSTRUCTOR. That morning I did not know anything in the office, and, after a frightful rush away to catch the bus, got to the aerodrome, shaking with excitement. They told me I should have a helmet, with ear phones, so that the instructor could speak to me, but I had none. Some that were in the club were tried, but my head was so small that none would fit. At last they clapped one on my head, and up I went, filled with joy. The helmet had been adjusted, but I could not hear a word.

For minutes we went on flying, and suddenly I felt the stick jerked about. Still I could hear nothing, so I abandoned everything and had a delightful joy ride. The instructor was furious when we landed, but I told him I could hear noth* ing. -Then they examined my helmet, and found the ear phones on my neck! Although bad weather and fogs delayed flying, so that I got only 15 minutes' training in six weeks, I was flying solo in April of next year, and received my pilot’s license in June. What was the next thing to do? I was asked. Keener and keener on aviation, I became interested in the engine.