FLIGHT IN LIGHT ’PLANE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 52, 29 January 1938, Page 12

FLIGHT IN LIGHT ’PLANE.

GIRL PILOT’S VENTURE

ACROSS OCEAN TO NEW GUINEA

On the first leg of a 2000-mile flight to New Guinea in a light aeroplane, Miss Barbara Hitchins, a young Sydney flier, recently left Kingsford Smith aerodrome, Sydney, with a passenger. In her little Gipsy Moth ’plane, Felicity, named after her friend, Miss Felicity Aiken, Miss Hitchins crossed a 500-mile stretch of water, and ventured across difficult country, before she reached her goal at Wau aerodrome.

This twenty-three-year-old flier is a business-like figure in her white flying suit, with her brown hair tucked into her helmet. “There have been a famous English woman aviator and a famous New Zealander. and I would like to prove that Australian, girls can do their part in flying, too,” said Miss Hitchins at Mascot, where she was checking over her tanks. “I have prepared for every emergency for the flight over the sea. I do not like the idea of flying over water, but as it happens that the sea gets in the way on the route I will just have to fly over it.” Miss Hitchins said that, although she felt that there was always a sporting chance to come down safely on land, a.nd no ebarfee in the water, she did . not feel at all nervous about the .flight. HEATHER FROM MISS BATTEN. Inside her cockpit, tacked on the instrument hoard, Miss Hitchins had a tiny picture of Jean Batten, which was presented to. her by Miss Batten just before she left on her last recordbreaking flight to England. “I also have a sprig of heather which Jean used to carry for luck, and lias now given to me for my mascot,” said-Miss Hitchins.

“She also has given me lots of useful hints and information. Mrs H. B. Bonney has sent me a map from Brisbane, and I have Admiralty charts for the sea hop.” On the flight she took only one change of clothes. Until she reached Cooktown she wore a white flying suit, and then she changed into tailored khaki shorts and shirts made to her own design for tropical flying. The suit is trimmed with the buttons of the Royal Aero Club of New South Wales, where she completed her training for her A license.

To give her plane the necessary range for the long hops, Miss Hitchins had extra fuel tanks installed, jiroviding about 50 gallons capacity, which enabled her to fly for about eight hours in ordinary conditions.

Apart from emergency rations, including water and meat extracts, Miss Hitchins did not carry anything that she would not take on an ordinary flight, except a revolver. “I have been riding and swimming a lot recently, and think I am in good physical condition. With the exception of giving up smoking, I have not taken any special training,” she said.