MISS JEAN BATTEN

Evening Star, Issue 22460, 3 October 1936, Page 17

MISS JEAN BATTEN

FLIGHT TO NEW ZEALAND PROBABLY STARTING ON MONDAY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, October 2. (Received October 3. at 10 a.m.) Miss Jean Batten will probably leave at dawn on Monday from Hatfield aerodrome in an attempt on a record flight. Two extra petrol tanks have been installed in her Percival Gull, which will give well over a 1,300-mile range. Miss Batten will carry a. letter from Mr W. J. Jordan for Mr Savage. She hopes it will bo the quickest delivery on record in the longest Emnlro flight. She is limiting her halt at Sydney to a very short period. HOPES TO BREAK RECORD EXPECTS TO LAND AT NEW PLYMOUTH. LONDON, October 2. (Received October 3, at 11.5 a.m.) Miss Batten told the Associated Press: —“ I hope to break my record of 338 hours in 1934. I will follow the same route and will use the machine in which I flew to South America. It is just a year old, but is running as sweetly as ever. I am looking forward to seeing my home country again. Yon do not know how much I long for a glimpse of 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 was likely to be charged 6s a gallon for petrol in Italy. She plans to stay a short time in Sydney for an overhaul of the 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 also fitted with a self-starter.