My wife sitting in a wooden model of a Gypsy Moth, at Herne Bay. Part of a tribute to Amy Johnson, who lost he life in a plane crash nearby.
Amy Johnson CBE (born 1 July 1903 – disappeared 5 January 1941) was a pioneering English pilot who was the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia. Flying solo or with her husband, Jim Mollison, she set many long-distance records during the 1930s. In 1933, Katherine Hepburn's character in the film Christopher Strong was inspired by Johnson. She flew in the Second World War as a part of the Air Transport Auxiliary and disappeared during a ferry flight. The cause of her death has been a subject of discussion over many years. Johnson obtained the funds for her first aircraft from her father, who was always one of her strongest supporters, and Lord Wakefield. She purchased a second-hand de Havilland Gipsy Moth G-AAAH and named it Jason after her father's business trade mark. Johnson achieved worldwide recognition when, in 1930, she became the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia. Flying G-AAAH Jason, she left Croydon Airport, Surrey, on 5 May and landed at Darwin, Northern Territory on 24 May, 11,000 miles (18,000 km) later.[8] Six days after, she damaged her aircraft while landing downwind at Brisbane airport and flew to Sydney with Captain Frank Follett while her plane was repaired. Jason was later flown to Mascot, Sydney, by Captain Lester Brain. Jason is now on permanent display in the Flight Gallery of the Science Museum in London
Size: 5137px × 2785px
Location: Herne Bay, Kent
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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