From the Archives, 1928: The first solo flight from England to Australia

First published in The Age on February 23, 1928

BERT HINKLER WINS

The End of a Great Flight – – England to Australian in Sixteen Days

World-Wide Congratulations

Bert Hinkler during the flight from England to Australia.

Australia at last!

I landed at Darwin shortly before 6 p.m., after flying over the sea practically the whole way from Bima. I found Bima inconvenient. I put up in a native’s hut and, bitten continuously by mosquitoes, I could not sleep.

I was out at 4 a.m. ready to start for Darwin. I had a tricky climb with a full load out of the mountains, and then set out for the open sea.

I passed over Kupang about 10.30 a.m. Then came more monotonous sea—I was over the Timor Sea for about five hours, and my first sight of Australia—Bathurst Island–caused great joy in the cockpit. —HINKLER.

OFFICIAL CONGRATULATIONS

Mr Bruce’s Message

CANBERRA, Wednesday. — The Prime Minister tonight despatched the following, message to Hinkler: — “On behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth and the people of Australia I desire to convey to you our warmest congratulations on the successful conclusion of your flight from England to Australia. You have carried out a hazardous undertaking with skill and intrepidity, and have not only added lustre to your already distinguished record, but have advanced the science of aviation in a very considerable degree. Our feelings are intensified by the fact that this feat of world-wide interest has been accomplished by an Australian.

“I wish also to express the hope that the Government may have the opportunity of welcoming you in person at the seat of Government at an early date. — S. M. BRUCE, Prime Minister.

MAN AND MACHINE WELL

Bert Hinkler’s flight plan.Credit:Fairfax Archives

The Prime Minister tonight received the following message from Mr. Jolly, mayor of Darwin:

“Hinkler reports both himself and machine in excellent condition. He looks fit and well and full of energy. Expresses complete satisfaction with Shell oil which has enabled him to bring flight to this stage successfully. Uneventful trip from jumping of place this morning, with exception of a little trouble over Bima mountains. Arranging schedule this evening, which will advise later. Hinkler intends leaving early in the morning.”

PLUCKY AND MEMORABLE FLIGHT

State Government’s Congratulations

Yesterday the following message of congratulation was telegraphed to Mr. Hinkler at Darwin by the Premier: — “On behalf of Government and people of Victoria, I desire to congratulate you heartily on your plucky and memorable flight”

Wonderful Endurance

On the present amazing flight Hinkler acted as his own navigator as well as mechanic. As a feat of endurance his performance is remarkable. Some idea of his tenacity might be gained by the thought of driving a motor car for ten, twelve or fourteen hours on end – watching, listening, feeling, with every sense alert; but instead of travelling along roads passing over mountains, seas, jungles, deserts, rocky coasts, and through clouds, when if anything went wrong a sudden plunge was inevitable, whereas the motorist could at least stop on firm earth to right the defect. The landman finds it difficult to imagine the weary monotony of hour after hour and day after day flying, cooped up in a small space, and with every sense alert. His magnificent achievement was rendered possible only by wonderful courage, patience and skill.

During Hinkler’s flight Shell motor spirit, supplies of which were organised at all points, was used. The Shell organisation has arranged for a special plane to meet Hinkler on his flight south from Darwin, and to convey him to Cloncurry. Although nothing definite is yet known as to whether Hinkler will visit Brisbane, the Shell agents are hopeful of inducing him to make a stop, and have initiated arrangements at Brisbane in anticipation of his calling there.

GOOD WEATHER

Perfect Landing Made

In a message received yesterday from Darwin, the Shell organisation was advised that Hinkler reported both himself and machine in excellent condition. He express high appreciated of assistance rendered, enabling him to bring the flight to a successful conclusion.

A good trip was made from the jumping-off place yesterday morning, with the exception of a slight difficulty encountered in the region of the Bima mountains, but the weather experienced over this section particularly was good. Hinkler sighted the Australian coast at 5.40 p.m., and made a perfect landing at 5.53 p.m., being enthusiastically greeted by huge crowds. His average speed was 92 miles an hour.

He will leave Darwin early this morning.

A DYNAMO OF ENERGY

Fine Record of War Service

Of diminutive build, Hinkler is described as a veritable dynamo of energy, and of almost inexhaustible resource. Whether it be a flight over land or seas, a non-stop to Melbourne or Brisbane, or any other stunt, “I expect I’ll have a shot at it” seems to be his standard comment. The following incident typifies the man. Hinkler came to Australia in 1921. As soon as the Ascanius had docked he made a bee line for Union House, introduced himself to the Avro agents, announced that the “Baby” was on board, and asked for workshop accommodation at Mascot, which was readily given. Informed that the Royal Agricultural show would open on the following Monday, and that the Avro people would exhibit, he hastened back to the wharf, located the case, got it out of the hold and carted down to Mascot the same afternoon. During the weekend he entirely reassembled the historic machine and early on the opening day had the “Baby” on view at the agents’ stand.

“For sheer perseverance,” remarked one who knows him, “Bert is hard to beat. I remember him calling at my office in Sydney about nine or ten years ago, when I was doing a little flying on my own. He had made a special journey all the way down from Bundaberg, where he had been experimenting with gliders, and literally begged me to give him a job. I had already tried fairly hard to break my own neck, and it was quite clear that Bert wanted to be in at the death. Eventually I got ‘Wizard’ Stone to take him on as a mechanic. Meanwhile his mother visited me, and implored me to try and get him to return home abandon the game; he was barely out of his teens at the time – if that. But I had got out of touch with him, and saw no more of him until a chance encounter in England during the war. How he got there I haven’t the foggiest idea. Ask him.”

Pressed for an explanation, Hinkler said: – “I just ‘made my way’ to England and prowled around the ‘drome at Kingston, sticky-beating into this, that and the other, until at last Tom Sopwith realised that it would be less trouble to find me a job in the factory that to hunt me off the premises day after day. So he signed me on as a mechanic.”

Beating off Zeppelins

On the outbreak of war, youth and inches notwithstanding, he was accepted by the R.N.A.S. – chiefly on Mr Sopwith’s strong recommendation – and September 1914, found him a full-fledged second-class air mechanic, attached to the Coast Defence Station at Whitley Bay, Northumberland. While there the first Zeppelin ever sighted by British aeroplane was seen over the coast, and Hinkler enjoys the distinction of being the observer in an 80 Gnome Bristol that was sent up to attack her. The raider immediately headed for the fatherland, chased by the Bristol, until some 30 miles out to sea, when her pursuers lost their bearings in a cloud bank. Hinkler on this occasion was armed with nothing more formidable than an old rifle and a couple of signalling rockets. “But, of course, Fritz never knew that,” he added reflectively.

Transferred to France early in 1916, he took part in the first long-distance air raids on German towns along the Saar Valley; later, from the Dunkirk base, he was engaged in several night bombing raids, on a Handley Page. Next came a series of day-bombing excursions, the objective being a chain of enemy aerodromes scattered throughout Belgium.

In his leisure he patented the Hinkler Double Lewis Gun, and got it generally adopted by No.5 squadron of the Royal Naval Air Corps.

Mr Hinkler obtained his pilot’s commission in 1917, while in France, and was posted to No. 28 squadron, R.A.F., station in Italy, where he remained until the Armistice. With over four years’ war service to his credit, he returned to England, and conceived the original idea of journeying back to Australia by air. This, of course, was long before the Commonwealth Governments offered its £10,000 prize. For that purpose he acquired a Sopwith “Dove”, and announced his readiness for immediate departure. How “official intervention” upset his plan is now a matter of ancient history.

Record Turin Flight

Last year, suffering acutely from what he describes as “airman’s itch,” he purchased the “Baby” and fitted it with “a few little gadgets” of his own – notably the Hinkler compass and the Hinkler altitude recorder. Then, having increased the petrol capacity from 10 gallons to 25, he one day astonished the entire world by making the record (an hitherto unattempted) non-stop flight from London to Turin – now also a matter of history. This accomplished, he flew on to Rome, and then back to London, “dropping in” quite casually and unexpectedly, in time for the Avro people to feature his “Baby” as star attraction of the Aeronautical Exhibition at the Olympia. While this exhibition was in progress he suddenly decided to enter his machine for the aerial Derby for which race he took it straight from the Olympia. The engine has already run for 50 hours without attention, but there was not time for tuning before the Derby. In this contest it was, of course, necessary to run the little “Green” full out. He attained second place in 2 hours 45 minutes, beaten for the premier position by Captain Hammersley, also on an Avro “Baby” – but a brand new one. This performance speaks extremely well for the reliability of the 35 h.p. engine, and has probed a revelation to many flying experts, particularly on the London-Turing flight.

A PUBLIC WELCOME

Melbourne will claim a share of the privilege of welcoming Hinkler. The chief president of the Australian Natives’ Association (Mr. J. Green) said yesterday he thought prominent citizens, headed by the Lord Mayor (Sir Stephen Morell), should cordially invite the intrepid airman to fly to Melbourne, and that a public demonstration, to vie with if not outdo that tendered by Sir Alan Cobham should be accorded him on his arrival. Alternatively, the welcome should be officially arranged by the State. As yet the A.N.A. had not been invited to join in any scheme of welcome.

The opinion was expressed by prominent members of the A.N.A. that the feat of this world-famous Australian-born pilot was quite equal to that of Lindberg, the American “ace”, in crossing the Atlantic. For long-drawn-out strain and anxiety, for trying situations calling for resource and courage, for hardihood in the face of adverse weather conditions, few flights could equal and non surpass this magnificent single-handed effort.

The following message will be telegraphed to Hinkler on his arrival at Bundaberg: – “On behalf of native born Australia, most heartily welcome and congratulate you on your glorious achievement”

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