NEARING GOAL

Southland Times, Issue 21087, 20 May 1930, Page 7

NEARING GOAL

MISS AMY JOHNSON PERFECT LANDING AT SINGAPORE FLIGHT OVER JUNGLE (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Singapore, May 18. Miss Amy Johnson made a perfect landing, having covered the 460 miles in six hours. She said: “Now it is quite impossible for me to beat the record. • I hope to reach Australia in two and a half days, but if a head wind is, experienced it may be three or three and a half.” . Miss Johnson would have beaten Bert Hinkler’s record by two days barring the accidents at Rangoon, She is now one day behind owing to taking two days from Bangkok to Singapore. She expected to cover that 1000 miles in one day, but head winds, rainstorms and poor visibility compelled her to land at Singora. The flight over the jungle worried her because of the possibility of a forced landing. She stated that the worst part of the flight was from Calcutta to Singapore. The spare propeller was used from Rangoon and she was unable to fly at full speed as it would have overheated the engine. She is leaving for Sourabaya to-morrow and may attempt to beat Hinkler’s record next year. SINGAPORE TO SOURABAYA. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Singapore, May 19. Miss Johnson has left for Sourabaya. A SISTER’S .STORY AMY BORED WITH WORK. London, May 18. Miss Amy • Johnson’s 18-year-old sister, Molly, tells the Sunday Express how Amy, bored with her work in a solicitor’s office, thought she would like to be an "aeroplane saleswoman. She gained her certificate as a ground engineer and then went home, called a family conference, and produced a map. She put her finger on Australia and said: “I want to fly there. I am going to fly there.” Eventually her father surrendered and bought the machine Amy is now using.

Miss Johnson’s father denies the reports that she is flying to Australia to meet her fiance. He agrees with her decision not to break Hinkler’s record, and adds: “Her reaching Australia will be- an achievement of which I shall be prouder than breaking records.”

BRIEF FLYING LIFE

ASTONISHMENT AT PERFORMANCE.

(Rec. .9.30 p.m.) London, May 18. Captain F. Matthews, who taught Miss Johnson to fly, does not disguise his astonishment at her feat. He says that her actual flying life prior to the flight to Australia was 91 homs. She quickly absorbed everything it was possible to learn about forced landings. A ground engineer took her over every phase of the work of the engine's maintenance and rigging, and she passed her examination with ease. Nobody in the club was aware of her ambition. She carried out only four cross-country flights, the longest being from London to Hull.