GIRL FLYER

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1931, Page 6

GIRL FLYER

CAREER IN THE A(R. AUCKLAND. February 24. An Auckland girl, Aliss Joan Ratten, who is taking up flying as a career, returned from England via Australia by the Ala rani a to-day. She learned to fly at the London Aero Club and is the first New Zealand girl to obtain a» aeroplane pilot’s certificate in England,. Miss Batten, who is 21 years ol age, had her first flight in an aeroplane with Squadron-Leader Kingston! Smith in the monoplane Southern Cross in Sydney.

“[ have been keen on flying ever since,” she said, “and when I was in England with my mother I took the opportunity of having flying, lessons with Major Travers at the London Aero Club’s aerodrome. 1 also took an engineering course at de Haviland’s. I intend taking up flying as a career and hope to get my B license-in Auckland. I have already done 18 hours’ solo flying and have a pilot’s certificate. Father thinks I am too young to take flying seriously, but I like it too much to give it up. It gives one a feeling of freedom and exhileration. There are quite a. number of lady pilots in England, and in London I met Miss Clifford, of Christchurch, who has done a lot of flying. Of course, il all depends on a girl. You- need fairly good sight and steady nerves.”;

The youthful flyer said she had been tremendously impressed by the high efficiency of aviation in England. Great Britain, she said, undoubtedly led.the worlcl Yis' -far as flying was concerned. One of the most interesting things she had'Wish just before leaving London was the first of the big Ha ridley-Pagc aeroplanes to he used by Imperial Airways ,in the London-Africa service. It was a huge machine seating 40 passengers, with a wing span of 130 ft.