England to Australia flightIn 1930, Amy Johnson left Croydon on the first solo flight by a woman between England and Australia, a distance of 11,000 miles. She flew a single-engine De Havilland Gipsy Moth (registration G-AAAH) named Jason, and landed in Darwin, Australia on 24 May. She had learned to fly only a few months more than a year before, during the winter of 1928-29. She had also qualified as the first British-trained woman ground engineer. For awhile she was the only woman G.E. in the world. Her intention for her Australia flight was to beat Bert Hinkler's record of 16 days (She missed it by 3 days.) For her achievement, she was awarded the Harmon Trophy and a CBE. The aircraft still exists, as an exhibit in the London at the Science Museum.« |
