Amy Johnson - a heroine of the skies
Amy was admired for her courage and her great achievement when she became the first woman to fly alone to Australia.
Amy began to learn to fly at the London Aeroplane Club in 1928. At first it was a hobby. But she loved flying so much that she wanted work with planes. And not only that, she wanted to prove that a woman could fly a plane as well as any man.
She learnt to fly solo and then learnt how to be a ground engineer, which is a person who checks if planes are safe to fly. She was the first British woman to become a ground engineer. For a while, she was the only female ground engineer in the world.
She learnt to fly solo and then learnt how to be a ground engineer, which is a person who checks if planes are safe to fly. She was the first British woman to become a ground engineer. For a while, she was the only female ground engineer in the world.
Early in 1930, she chose her objective: to fly solo to Australia and to beat Bert Hinkler's record of 16 days. At first, she wasn't able to raise the money she needed. But eventually Lord Wakefield agreed to help. Amy's father and Wakefield shared the £600 cost of a used DH Gypsy Moth (G-AAAH) and it was named Jason.
Amy took off in her Gypsy Moth from Croydon on 5th May 1930, and landed in Darwin on 24th May. She had to land 15 times before reaching Australia so that she could rest and refuel. Sometimes she crash-landed so the plane had to be repaired. She flew 11,000 miles in total. In 1930 this was an epic journey as it was so long and it was an impressive achievement.
When she came back to Britain she was greeted as a heroine.
Amy took off in her Gypsy Moth from Croydon on 5th May 1930, and landed in Darwin on 24th May. She had to land 15 times before reaching Australia so that she could rest and refuel. Sometimes she crash-landed so the plane had to be repaired. She flew 11,000 miles in total. In 1930 this was an epic journey as it was so long and it was an impressive achievement.
When she came back to Britain she was greeted as a heroine.