READY TO START

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23004, 6 October 1936, Page 9

READY TO START

MISS JEAN BATTEN FLIGHT TO NEW ZEALAND (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 4. Miss Jean Batten has arrived at Lympne in readiness for her flight. She said: "I want to start in the morning, but the weather forecast shows that the barometer is falling heavily in southern Europe. I shall have another report at 3 a.m. I in tend to make the first stop Marseilles, where 1 -hall take on a full load of petrol (155 gallons). I hope to halve my Australian record. I shall wear my lucky New Zealand flag as a muffler, as I have done on all my flights." THE FLIGHT COMMENCED LONDON, Oct. 5. (Received Oct. 5, at 8 p.m.) Miss Jean Batten hopped off at 4.10 a.m. in brilliant moonlight. It is reported that the weather is favourable as fai as Italy, where there is heavy cloud at 1000 ft. " I wish I could have stayed for the presentation of the Johnston Trophy on November 2, but that would have delayed me a month and I would have been obliged to fly through the monsoon. I hope to fly back to London for the Coronation." She climbed into the cockpit clad in a heavy brown coat and white flying suit, under which she wore a green jumper, which she described as her lucky colour. Earlier she packed abcferd the machine a full wardrobe of frocks and a number of sets of dainty underwear, carefully stowing them from contact with grease and oil. She will fly to Cyprus after Marseilles, and thereafter will follow the former route. BRIEF STOP AT MARSEILLES MARSEILLES, Oct. 5. (Received Oct. 6, at 1.30 a.m.) Miss Jean Batten arrived at 8.26 a.m., having averaged 150 miles an hour. She resumed at 9.3 a.m., and hopes to reach Athens at 4 p.m.