Australia’s Air Baby.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1922, Page 4

Australia’s Air Baby.

OVER 3000 MILES ‘ALOFT. SYDNEY, September 13. The title of Australia’s Air Baby has been given to little Patricia Treacy aged two years and four months, who has now travelled, at various times, for over 20 hours in the air—probably a world record for one so young.

Patricia is the daughter of Lieutenant- Jack Treacy of the Australian Airciraift and Engineering Company, and has just returned with her mother and father from a trip of 3000 miles or so over the Riverine, wherein the head of the family piloted his Avro aeroplane, and with all his family cm hoard demonstrated to all the reliabilitv of the machine.

During each flight, the small royager was strapped on to the front seat, which was carefully padded for her comfort, and being equipped with a special flying helmet and flying jacket she was very comfortable. Usually on a ' long trip she fell aslecq , and covered with a rug woke up at the journey’s end.

Pati,icia had her first flight at tfie age of I 1 months, and although accustomed to Hying, when recently asked by her father if she. w#u!d come for a

flv replied: “No, I won’t come unless mummy comes.”

Mrs Treacy, an English girl, has plenty of nerve, for she has accompanied her husband on many flights.' On one occasion she travelled in an experimental type of maclrne from Bristol aerodvebe to Ipswich,

Lieutenant Treacy has flown over 35,000 miles in. Australia, having covered Queensland on two occasions and Aqw South Wales once. He lias a total, including bis war flying, or between 600 and 700 hours aerial flight to liis credit.