On this day in 1930 Amy Johnson achieved worldwide recognition when she became the first woman pilot, or in the language of the time, aviatrix, to fly solo from England to Australia. Flying G-AAAH, a Gipsy Moth which was the first of her aircraft named Jason, she left Croydon, south of London, on 5 May of that year and landed in Darwin, Northern Territory, on 24 May after flying 11,000 miles. Her aircraft for this flight can still be seen in the Science Museum in London. She received the Harmon Trophy as well as a CBE in recognition of this achievement, and was also honoured with the No. 1 civil pilots licence under Australias 1921 Air Navigation Regulations. Photograph: Modern colourised photograph of Amy Johnson. Original photograph taken by an employee of the British government c. 1930.
Posted on: Sun, 25 May 2014 12:01:31 +0000