MISS BATTEN HOPS OFF

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 18, 14 October 1937, Page 5

MISS BATTEN HOPS OFF

-Press Asnn -«

Flyingf to Darwin lor Attempt on Record MR BROADBENT'S PLANS

(By Telegrapb

"nrvngbt.)

(Beceived 14, 11,40 a.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 14. Miss Jean Batten, tho New Zealand aviatrix, hopped-ofl from Bichmoud aerodrome at 5.55 o'clock this morning for Longreacb. 8he was farewelled by Air Force officials, Shb made a good takq'Off in misty weather with low clouds. Miss Batten is to attempt Mr, H. F. Broadbent's Australia.'to-England flight record, In tbe raeantime, a London message reports that, while Miss Batten is attempting to lower his record, Mr, Broadbent is planning a secret start before October 19 to beat Miss Batten 's solo record to Austraiia. He may pass Miss Batten en route. The news of Mr. Broadbent's intentions has given an impetus to Miss Batten 's pians. She hopes to reach London before Mr. Broadbent gets to Darwin and thus make certain of her' claim to the two-way record. Miss Batten has not set herself a fixed daily schedule. She intends to leave Darwin at six o'clock on Saturday morning and Batavia in the early hours of Sunday morning. "After that," she said, "it depends on the weather; but I expect to snatcb a few hours' sleep at Rangoon, Jodhpur, Basra, Cj-prus and Bome." Miss Batten carries a supply of concentrated foods and also a revolver and ammunition. Her four mascots, including the New Zealand silk flag whieh she carried across the Tasman, are stowed away in the plane.