Latest news with #MissJohnson
The Herald Scotland
28-04-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Amy Johnson's historic Australia flight to be celebrated on 95th anniversary
A flypast of a biplane similar to the one used by Miss Johnson is planned for Sunday. Croydon airport is now a museum (Alamy/PA) Throughout this weekend, the airport will host guided tours of the control tower and an Amy Johnson exhibition, while discussions and workshops will take 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. The 27-year-old had no radio link to the ground, no reliable weather information and only basic maps to guide her over uncharted land and some of the world's most inhospitable terrain. She braved sandstorms, forced landings and the amorous attentions of Arab sheikhs to reach Darwin in northern Australia 19 days later. On her return to Croydon, she was greeted by an estimated 200,000 people who lined the route to the airport. Micha Nestor, visitor centre manager at Croydon airport – which is now a museum – told the PA news agency: 'What we want to do is inspire future aviation enthusiasts, and also highlight women in aviation 'Amy was one of the major celebrities of the 1930s. 'We really want to amplify her story, because Amy was a big deal.' She added: 'There's one term that she used to use, and that's air mindedness. 'At almost each stop (to Australia) she had to deal with a different problem, and use all those different skills she'd gathered, whether it's engineering, maths, all different bits and pieces, to figure it out. 'That's what we want to promote: thinking on the ball.' Amy Johnson preparing to set off for Australia (LNA/PA) Papers released by The National Archives in 2005 revealed that a senior UK diplomat wrote before the flight that there should be restrictions on Miss Johnson's plans given her 'sex, youth and comparative inexperience'. She was an 'adventuress' who needed protecting from herself, the official communique suggested. Miss Johnson died aged 37 when a plane she was flying crashed into the sea off Herne Bay, Kent in January 1941. At the time, she was serving as a pilot with the Air Transport Auxiliary, which delivered aircraft for the RAF. Her body was never found. Croydon airport opened in 1920, featuring the world's first air traffic control tower. Mike Thorn, a trustee of Historic Croydon Airport Trust, described it as the UK's 'first major international airport' and 'the equivalent of Heathrow before the Second World War'. He said: 'We get people travelling long distances to visit. He recently had some people from Hong Kong.' The airport was closed in 1959 and converted into a museum in 2000.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
Amy Johnson's historic Australia flight to be celebrated on 95th anniversary
The 95th anniversary of aviation pioneer Amy Johnson's historic 10,000-mile flight to Australia will be 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 is planned for Sunday. Throughout this weekend, the airport will host guided tours of the control tower and an Amy Johnson exhibition, while discussions and workshops will take 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. The 27-year-old had no radio link to the ground, no reliable weather information and only basic maps to guide her over uncharted land and some of the world's most inhospitable terrain. She braved sandstorms, forced landings and the amorous attentions of Arab sheikhs to reach Darwin in northern Australia 19 days later. On her return to Croydon, she was greeted by an estimated 200,000 people who lined the route to the airport. Micha Nestor, visitor centre manager at Croydon airport – which is now a museum – told the PA news agency: 'What we want to do is inspire future aviation enthusiasts, and also highlight women in aviation 'Amy was one of the major celebrities of the 1930s. 'We really want to amplify her story, because Amy was a big deal.' She added: 'There's one term that she used to use, and that's air mindedness. 'At almost each stop (to Australia) she had to deal with a different problem, and use all those different skills she'd gathered, whether it's engineering, maths, all different bits and pieces, to figure it out. 'That's what we want to promote: thinking on the ball.' Papers released by The National Archives in 2005 revealed that a senior UK diplomat wrote before the flight that there should be restrictions on Miss Johnson's plans given her 'sex, youth and comparative inexperience'. She was an 'adventuress' who needed protecting from herself, the official communique suggested. Miss Johnson died aged 37 when a plane she was flying crashed into the sea off Herne Bay, Kent in January 1941. At the time, she was serving as a pilot with the Air Transport Auxiliary, which delivered aircraft for the RAF. Her body was never found. Croydon airport opened in 1920, featuring the world's first air traffic control tower. Mike Thorn, a trustee of Historic Croydon Airport Trust, described it as the UK's 'first major international airport' and 'the equivalent of Heathrow before the Second World War'. He said: 'We get people travelling long distances to visit. He recently had some people from Hong Kong.' The airport was closed in 1959 and converted into a museum in 2000.
BBC News
10-02-2025
- BBC News
Mother whose buggy was hit by car blames traffic scheme
A mother whose buggy was knocked by a car that mounted a pavement has blamed increased congestion caused by a nearby traffic restriction trial.A bus, taxi and cycle-only trial began on 25 January on a section of Portswood Road in Southampton to improve air quality. Miss Johnson said the van hit the buggy with her five-month-old baby inside on Tuesday morning during the school rush hour. Eamonn Keogh, Southampton City Council cabinet member for transport, said he was "relieved that everyone involved in this incident is safe". Miss Johnson, whose two other young children were with her at the time, said the van mounted the pavement after a collision with another car moments earlier. "Both sides of the road were congested with traffic," she said. "I feel that's because the [new restrictions] mean the road cannot be used effectively."It's incredibly dangerous, there's going to be a catastrophe or a fatal injury at some point." Councillor Keogh said he could "only imagine" how distressing the incident would have been. "We would remind all drivers of the need to remain calm and be attentive after an incident and above all focus on making sure they and people nearby are safe."The Portswood Road trial means only buses, taxis and cyclists are permitted to travel at certain hours between the junctions of St Denys Road spur and Westridge council has announced cameras will be used to enforce the traffic restrictions on Portswood Road from Monday 10 notices will be issued to drivers in the first instance who pass through the restricted area at certain times of the day. A fine of £70 - reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days - will be given to drivers for their second offence. The council said some drivers had not been complying with the restrictions and it expected the cameras to improve the situation. "This change is crucial to ensure the robustness of the trial and to support the goals of improving bus journeys as well as safety on Portswood Road," it said. 'Adjustments' being made Councillor Keogh added "adjustments" would be made to parking on Brookvale Road, which residents told the BBC was becoming dangerous due to increased traffic."This will help ease congestion and improve road safety around the junction. Additional monitoring of Brookvale Road will be carried out as part of the trial process," he said. The council said money raised from Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) would fund the upkeep of the cameras and any extra funds would be "reinvested into Southampton's transport network". It added its traffic data indicated that car use on Portswood Road had fallen the week the trial began compared to the previous week and pedestrian numbers along Portswood Broadway had risen in the same police said it had been called to reports of a collision on Highfield Road between two cars, one of which then struck a pushchair on the pavement."This report is currently with local officers, who will review it and look at any lines of enquiry available," it said. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
