TALK BY TELEPHONE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1932, Page 13

TALK BY TELEPHONE

TO HUSBAM) M LONDON!

STRAIN OF SLEEPLESSNESS

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 19th November, 11 a-m.)]: ] BUGBY, 18th .November.

Amy Johnson completed her great flight from England to Cape Town at 1.30 G.M.T., thus establishing- a new record for the 6200 miles journey. Her time was 4 days 6 hours 52 minutes, the previous record held by ncr husband, Mr. J. A. Mollison, being 4 days 17 hours 22 minutes. ,

A vast crowd assembled at Cape Town! to ■witness her arrival, and the air* woman was 'overwhelmed with congra* tulatibns; on her magnificent achieve^ ment. "Within a few mirmtes of land* ing she was in. telephonic communication with her husband ,ia London, whoi assured her of the personal prido he' felt in her performance, wnicn, ne saidjj would probably do more to advance British aviation than any single-flight iaS yet done. . .

"When Mr. Mollison suggested that; she must be very tired after four days*, flight during which she Trad only five hours' sleep, she said she -was not tog tired to go on talking.

In a broadcast talk at <2ape Town, however, Amy said that the- strain of sleeplessness had "been terrific. r

Bef erring to her experience on. tha journey she said that the worst stretch.' was,from Duala to Bengnela flown, byj night. ■■■--.. ■ J

Amy Johnson-y machine, the Cloud' 'is a standard De HaviDand Puss Moth' cabin aeroplane, fitted witH a Gipsy. Major engine of 130 horsepower, equipped wijh special petrol tanks. Normally these machines carry tanks of 35 gallons capacity, but, byj utilising the space occupied T>y the lack seats for fuel tanks l; the capacity was increased to 129 gallons, the range "being increased from 650 to 1850 miles.

Her route was the "most direct possible, halts being made at Barcelona^ Oran in Algeria, Gao Niamey, Duala 1 Benguela, and Mossamedes. !