Bird Women Equal Men Flyers in Skill

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 258, 21 January 1928, Page 24

Bird Women Equal Men Flyers in Skill

HAT women fliers will play an important part in the “next war” (if any) seems taken for granted by some milijjy i&A tary prophets. Not that they envisage a generation of aerial Amazons fighting death-duels in the clouds with enemy aces. The combative side of aviation is still regarded as a monopoly of the chivalrous sex. But just as woman motorists proved their usefulness and dependability in many emergencies of transport service during the World War, so, it is predicted, women flyers will render invaluable aid to their countries and to humanity in any future struggles that may vex the tranquility of this planet. How do women comport themselves in the air? They are “absolutely the equal of men,” declares Sir Sefton Brancker, K.C.8., the “active head of all English aviation.” Sir Sefton, whose present official duties are stated as those of “Air yice-Marshal of Great Britain and Director of Civil Aviatioß," remarked that “only a shortage of training facilities prevented women from being of the greatest service in air transport. If ever there is flood, famine or pestilence in any part of the world, I think there is no doubt women will be in the forefront in transporting medical stores, food and all necessaries.”

Sir Sefton Brancker’s unique position gives so much weight to each pronouncement from him that his every word is invested with unusual interest and value—particularly as he speaks with inside knowledge of Governments and their ways. “I have flown with Mrs. ElliottLynn, whom I should describe as the woman flying ace of Great Britain,” Sir Sefton continued, "and her achievements are proof that, in small machines at any rate, women are absolutely the equal of men. How successfully a woman might pilot a big passenger liner is a different matter, though from my point of view even that is one of psychology rather than of technique. “But I foresee a brilliant future for women in the air, and they have my heartiest support 'in their efforts to conquer the prejudice which hampers them and which is, as I judge from my experience, without reasonable foundation.

“How wonderfully fascinating the air is!” exclaimed the Marshal enthusiastically. “It reduces space to almost nothing. I wanted to go to Constantinople the other day. I flew over the most glorious country, peeped at the Adriatic, saw Corfu, came down for a spot of lunch and reached my destination in time for dinner —without being a scrap more tired or travel-worn than when I left home!”

“I think that woman is always ad-venture-loving at heart,” he continued. “Look how women always pioneered side by side with men, before the days when they had any physical training or even wore sensible clothes. No wonder they are pioneering in the air, not only side by side with, but occasionally ahead of the men. “Mrs. Elliott-Lynn has just established a new high record. She rose about four miles high! I don’t think that men have much fault to find with that. >

“Flying is' cheap, too, comparatively speaking. A pilot can Inveßt in a machine and feel pretty sure of making it a paying proposition. Insurance may hit him a little hard, and" in that case he has only the initial expense rf the machine,-roughly £BOO, anci the unimportant expenses of running the machine. I have only one final word to say—encourage the women as much as you do the men. Lady Bailey and Mrs. Elliott-Lynn need not remain isolated instances!

“The time is coming when people will use flying machines as mechanically as they now ride in autos,” ex-

claimed Lady Bailey, “and they will find them cheaper and far more comfortable.”

Other women flyers, including the Duchess of Bedford and Mrs. ElliotiLvnn, also foretell development of the same ambitious kind, and Mrs. ElliottLynn says: “If men don’t establish the airplane as a common, everyday means of travel, women will!” It is especially brave of Lady Bailey to fly, because, as she says, “should I be killed, my husband ivould never forgive me!” thereby betraying her Irish origin. Lady Bailey was formerly the Honourable Mary Westenra, daughter of the fifth Baron Rossmore, of Monaghan. She is tall, fair, slentfer and extremely gentle in manner, but with a hint of steely strength in her grey eyes. “At first,” she confessed, “I learned to fly in secret. I dared not tell my husband what I was doing. Mrs. Elliott-Lynn, the flying ace, came to lunch one day, and it occurred to me that she might teach me. I went to her, and she explained the rudiments of flight. And then I determined to take it up seriously. “Flying is the most exhilarating thing in the world!” she went on with growing emphasis, “and the fascination of it continually increases. “All the same, although I have never had a- crash, I have had to make forced landings. Usually it has been my own fault. Once, for example, I let myself run short of petrol. I realised that I must come down, and I looked round for a nice spot. I saw the ideal ground, and of course I made for it.

“When I landed I found that the place was a lunatic asylum. It is the only incident in my flying career that has ever drawn anything other than a frown from my husband.” Mrs. Elliott-Lynn is described as the woman “ace,” to whom all European women owe their right to fly commercially. She is quoted as relating: “When I first flew, I took my pilot’s licence, and only afterward did I discover that I had no right to a commercial one. I needed money very badly, and I had staked my last dollar on flying. I simply haunted the various ministries, until they felt at last that if I insisted upon flying and being killed, perhaps it would be a happy release all round! But in the end, because the men saw that it was unjust and were sympathetic, I gained my point, and it was . agreed between countries that women should fly freely to make a living!” Mrs. Elliott-Lynn was recently married to Sir James Heath, wealthy iron manufacturer and coal operator. For professional purposes, however, she still uses her earlier married name. Of her altitude achievements, we are told:— Just a week before her marriage she created a new record for light planes when she ascended to 19,000 feet, carrying a passenger.