Jane Batten New Zealand pilot Date of Birth: 15.09.1909 Country: Spain

1. Biography of Jean Batten
2. Record-breaking Flights
3. Later Life and Legacy

Biography of Jean Batten

Jean Batten was a New Zealand pilot and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1936). She was born on September 15, 1909, in the city of Rotorua, New Zealand. She received her education at a private school in Auckland. In 1930, Jean moved to London, United Kingdom, and soon after began taking flying lessons at one of the London aeroclubs. She obtained her first pilot's license in 1931.

Record-breaking Flights

In 1933, Jean made her first attempt to fly from the UK to Australia, but it ended in failure due to an engine malfunction in India. Her second attempt resulted in a forced landing in Italy. However, her third attempt was successful, and on May 8, 1934, she reached the Australian city of Darwin after 14 days and 22 hours of flight. A few weeks later, she became the first woman pilot to make a return flight from Australia to the UK.

On November 11, 1935, Jean attempted to set a record-breaking time for a transatlantic flight between Africa and Brazil. Her flight time of 61 hours and 15 minutes improved the previous record by over 20 hours.

On October 5, 1936, she began her flight from the UK to New Zealand. Within six days, she reached Australia, and on October 16, after a 10 and a half hour flight over the Tasman Sea, she arrived in New Zealand. Her solo flight time was 11 days and 45 minutes, setting a record that stood for the next 44 years.

After a few months of rest in her homeland, Jean made a return flight to the UK in just 5 days and 18 hours, setting two world records for flights in both directions. In 1938, she became the first woman to be awarded an honorary medal by the International Federation of Aeronautics for her achievements.

Later Life and Legacy

Jean Batten passed away on November 22, 1982, in poverty and obscurity on the island of Mallorca. The global public only learned of her death five years later. The largest international airport in New Zealand, located in Auckland, was named in her honor.