From the Archives, 1928: The first solo flight from England to Australia
By Staff Writers
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BERT HINKLER WINS
World-Wide Congratulations
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 nativeâs 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 seaâI was over the Timor Sea for about five hours, and my first sight of AustraliaâBathurst Island--caused great joy in the cockpit. âHINKLER.