FLYING AS A CAREER

Taranaki Daily News, 27 February 1931, Page 10

FLYING AS A CAREER

YOUNG AUCKLAND GIRL. EXPERIENCE IN ENGLAND. An Auckland girl, Aliss Jean Batten, who is taking up flying as a career, returned from-England, via Australia, by the Marama'this week. She is the daughter of Air. and. Mrs. F. H. Batten, and learned to fly at the London Aero Club. She is the first New Zealand girl to obtain a flying pilot’s pertificate in England- -

Miss Batten, who is 21 years of age, had her first flight in an aeroplane with Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith in the Southern Cross in Sydney. “I have been keen on flying ever since,” she said, “and when I was in England with my mother I took the opportunity of having flying lessions with Alajor Travers at the London Aero Club’s aerodrome. I also took an engineering course at de Havilands.

“I intend taking up flying as, a career, and hope to get my B license in Auckland.. I have already done 18 hours’ ■solo flying and have a pilot’s certificate. Father thinks I am too young to take flying seriously, but I like it too much to give it up. It gives one a feeling of freedom and exhiliration. There are quite a number of women pilots in England, and in London I met Miss Clifford, of Christchurch, who has done a lot of flying. Of ■ course; it all depends on the girl. You need fairly good sight and steady nerves.” The youthful flier said she had been tremendously impressed with the high efficiency of aviation in England. Great Britain, she said, undoubtedly led the world as far as flying was concerned. One of the most interesting things she had seen just before leaving London was the first of the big Handley-I’age aeroplanes to be used by Imperial Airways in the London-Africa service. It was a huge machine, seating 40 passengers, with a wing span of 130 feet.