BAN PROPOSED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 242, 13 October 1936, Page 7

BAN PROPOSED

TASMAN CROSSING JEAN BATTEN’S FLIGHT DANGER OF SINGLE-ENGINE MACHINE AVIATRIX NOT DETERRED (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright; MELBOURNE, Oct. 11. j The Civil Aviation Department I intends to try to prevent Miss I Batten’s crossing the Tasman in a I single-engine machine. The Act- | ing-Controller-General stated that I the Civil Aviation Board would j stop her flight to New Zealand if it could, and would make a recommendation to the Minister. A Darwin message states that Miss Batten said: "I am going to fly to my home in New Zealand.” a£ro CLUB VIEW SHOULD ABANDON PROJECT NEW ZEALAND OPINION [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. Mr. C. C. Weinstein, president of the New Zealand Aero Club, is emphatic that Miss Batten should abandon her project. “I don’t think she should attempt the flight,” he said. “I strongly agree with Messrs. Sheil and Stannage. Unfortunately, I am afraid that nothing will stop her, not even a ban by the Australian Government, because she has accomplished a longer flight in the same machine. She would not lose any prestige by abandoning the flight. In fact she would show good judgment.” BRITISH CERTIFICATE NO POWER TO STOP FLIGHT Received Oct. 13, la.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 12. The Civil Aviation Board, while discouraging Miss Batten’s Tasman hop, announces that it has no power to stop it owing to her machine having a British certificate of airworthiness, which the Commonwealth must recognise. Broadbent’s Comment. Mr 11. F. Broadbent, whose record Miss Batten has beaten, declared that he would probably attempt to regain it within the next twelve months. Meanwhile he was delighted over her achievement, and hoped she would get through to New Zealand and thus be the first woman to fly from London to the Dominion. The risk of engine failure was not serious, but it was essential that she should study weather conditions. FLYING SOUTH JEAN AT CHARLEVILLE Received Oct. 13. 1.35 a.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 12. Jean Batten arrived at Charleville, Quensland, at. 6.30 p.m., and remains overnight. She is to arrive at Sydney to-morrow at 11 a.m., and then has a few days' rest prior to the flight to New Zealand. She is assured of a big welcome at Sydney to-morrow, in which the Aero Club is taking a prominent part. STORY OF FLIGHT PERFECT WEATHER REPAIRS AT DARWIN DETERMINED TO FLY THE TASMAN. DARWIN, Oct. 12. “In contrast with the dreadful conditions I met with on the 1934 flight,” Miss Batten said, “the weather this time was perfect and everything was straight sailing except for a little difficulty and wetness over Alor Star.

llt wasn’t serious really, but for a - time I could hardly see anything ’ | through the heavy rain. I was afraid . ; I would never make a landing. The i machine was tossing somewhat, so I i was relieved when I found myself I within striking distance of the aero- ! drome at Penang. I put the machine down and refuelled, and set off to Singapore. “The only other excitement worth I mentioning was a sand storm over ’ Persia. Flying in a sand storm can be a terrifying experience. Visibility ; doesn’t exist, and grit can be dangeri ous. However, I didn’t waste any ' time before climbing to get out of it. I At 10,000 feet I was in clear atmoj sphere. A Secret Hope. ; “When I started this flight I was ' secretly hoping to break the record, ' I but didn’t like to say so too definitely. ; It was not until I was halfway that j I knew I had a good chance. “The greatest battle was with sleep. ; 'I have been flying every night since | leaving London, and I have no relish j for attempting a night flight across | Australia. “On landing at Darwin I discovered just in time that there was no fluid ' in the cylinder of the left brake; This i brake needs repairs.” *iiss Batten intended to take off • immediately for Camotiweal, and when I Qantas mechanics were unable to repair her weak brake because they had first to attend to two Qantas mail machines, she said, “I will fix it myself.” She began stripping the brakes, but discovered that repairs would take some time, and decided to stay the night at Darwin. She hopes to reach Sydney on Tuesday. She is deter- | mined to fly the Tasman. "MORE THAN PLUCK ’ DAILY MAIL TRIBUTE LONDON, Oct. 11. Under the heading “Bravo, Bonny ' Jean,” the Daily Mail says: “There I must be heroic stuff in Miss Batten, but she possesses more than pluck. I She has superb skill, which brackets I herself with Amy Mollison - as the classic pilot. The time is not distant when two or three-day flights to the southern Dominions will be a com- j monplace.” AUSTRALIAN TRIBUTES DAUNTLESS COURAGE I AMONG FOREMOST PILOTS SYDNEY, Oct. 12. The Sydney Morning Herald, in a leader, says that Miss Batten’s performance puts her among the foremost of the world’s air pilots. Durin her five days’ flight from England she allowed herself only seven hours’ sleep. This also. must be a record in endurance. Her dauntless courage she has proved over and over again. She has now assured international renown, and will carry with her the whole world’s best wishes for success in the final stages of her flight from England to New , Zealand, which will be the longest I Empire flight on record. It may be : expected that the Australian and New Zealand Governments win make every effort to assure that she does i not want for encouragement and as-