Aviator Amy's incredible achievements celebrated

EVENT MARKED 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC SOLO FLIGHT FROM CROYDON TO AUSTRALIA

- By NEIL LANCEFIELD

THE 95th anniversary of aviation pioneer Amy Johnson’s historic 10,000-mile flight to Australia has been celebrated at the location where she departed the UK.

She began her journey to become the first woman to fly solo from the UK to Australia at Croydon airport, south London on May 5, 1930.

A flypast of a biplane similar to the one used by Miss Johnson was part of the event.

Throughout the weekend, the airport hosted guided tours of the control tower and an Amy Johnson exhibition, while discussions and workshops took place at the adjacent Croydon Aerodrome Hotel.

Miss Johnson had only 100 hours of flying experience when she took off from Croydon in her second-hand Gipsy Moth plane, named Jason.