AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1930, Page 5

AVIATION

AMY JOHNSON

HINKLER’S WARNING

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

/Received this day at 8.30. a.m.) LONDON, May 12.

Bert Hinkler points out that in the event of her having mechanical trou ole, the second stage of MTss Amy, Johnson’s journey presents the most serious difficulties. Most of the areas over which she has yet to fly, lie says are tropical jungle and water. Ihe landing grounds are very remote.

A START FOR RANGOON

CALCUTTA, May 13. Mis Amy Johnson left here this morning for Rangoon.

MISS JOHNSON’S PROGRESS

(Received this dnv at 9.26 a.m.) RANGOON, May 13.

Miss Amy Johnson landed at Insein, nine miles from Rangoon at 5.30. Interviewed she said: On leaving Calcutta there was foggy weather for the morning journey to Akyab which, however, wa-s pleasant, but later she ran into terrible weather,: heavy rains and, 'strong head winds. She crossed -the Yomas about twelve thousand feet altitude and owing to bad visibility she Gradually came down to about two hundred feet. Then she followed the coast line and also the railway till she reached Trsein where she mistook the playing field for Rangoon racecourse, but finding it too small she continued her. flight However, losing sight of Rangoon and finding no other place she returned to rnsein and landed there perfectly./While taxing, the plane fell

•Ho a ditch, which she. had not noticed and thus slightly damaged the wings, wheels and propellors. She herself Was uninjured. The engine is alright and if repairs ar.e finished she intends to take off to-morrow.

[Bert Hinkler,, the Australian aviator, who flew alone in a tiny open ;cockpit aeroplane,- .with a motor-of less" than 80 h.p., in February, 1928, made a flight of 12,000 miles 'in 10-J days from London to Darwin, in Australia. It was at that time the longest solo flight, the longest flight in a light aeroplane, the first non-stop flight from London to Rome, the fastest trip ffom England to India) and it clipped twelve' days from the previous flight record between England and Australia.: He started from Croydon on February 7th', and made the following hops:— Rome 900 miles, Malta 420, Tebrock 650, Ramleh 650, Basra.,Boo, Jesk 700, Karachi 600, Cawnpore 600, Calcutta 600, Rangoon- 750, Burmah 450, Singapore 750, Bandoeng 600, Bima 850, Darwin 970. His flying time was. 134 hours,. He then went .on to his home at Bundaberg 1770 -miles further.]

FRENCHMAN FLIES ALTANTIC.

FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO BRAZIL

RIO DE JANIERO, May 13

The French aviator, Jean Mermoz, who is making a trans-Atlantic flight with .mails, from Saint Louis, (Senegal); has-landed at Port‘Natal.

MERMOD’S FLIGHT,

CLATM FOR A RECORD

(Received this dav at 9.40 a.m.) RIO DE JANIERO, May 14

Mermod in landing at Nptal (Brazil), completed a flight of about seventeen hundred miles, consuming 20hrs. 12 min. It is understood a claim will be lodged with the International Federation for a record. The first part of the journey from St. Louis was easy, but the aviators radioed that half way across, .the cabin of the plane was nearly filled with rain, during a storm which they traversed.