BID FOR RECORD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19136, 3 October 1936, Page 5

BID FOR RECORD

JEAN BATTEN’S AIM ENGLAND TO DOMINION LONGEST EMPIRE PLIGHT CROSSING OF TASMAN LONGING FOR HOMELAND (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press ABsn.) (Reed. Oct. 3, noon.) LONDON, Oct. 2. Miss Jean Batten, the New Zealand airwoman, will probably leave at dawn on Monday from Hatfield aerodrome in an attempt on a record Empire flight to New Zealand. Two extra petrol tanks have been installed in her Percival Gull machine, and will give her well over 1300 miles range. Miss. Batten will carry a .letter from Mr. W- J- Jordan, the High Commissioner,’ to the Prime Minister, Mr. M. J. Savage. She hopes that it will be the quickest delivery on record in the longest Empire flight. She is limiting her halt' at Sydney to a very short period. Miss Batten told the Associated Press: “I hope to break my record of 14 days 2 hours for a flight to Australia in 1934. I will follow the same route, and will use the machine in which I flew to Soutli America. It is just a year old, but is running as sweetly as ever. SHORT STAY IN SYDNEY “I am looking forward to seeing my home country again. You do not know how much I long for a glimpse of the New Zealand countryside and New Zealand faces. I know it will be a happy moment.” Miss Batten confessed that the preparations for the trip had imposed, an immense strain, especially the fuel arrangements. She is likely to be charged ■6s a gallon for petrol in Italy. She plans to stay for a short time in Sydney for an overhaul of her machine before taking off for New Plymouth, from where she hopes to go on to Auckland. Mrs. Batten plans to follow in a steamer a few weeks after seeing her daughter take off on her record dash. Conspicuously painted on the rudder of the plane is a large New Zealand flag. Since the Atlantic hop, the plane has been fitted with a self-starter.