2-720-552 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Bert Hinkler, 1933. Portrait of Australian pioneer aviator and inventor Hinkler (1892-1933), 'who in 1928 set up a record of 15 1/2 days for a solo flight to Australia, set out to beat his victor, C.R.W. Scott and the latter's conqueror, J.A. Mollison. After he started - silence. Only after some time of frantic searching was his wrecked machine and body found in the Appennines. So passed one of Britain's typical great men: modest, unassuming, efficient.' Hinkler, dubbed 'Australian Lone Eagle', designed and built early aircraft and was the first person to fly solo from England to Australia. He was also the first person to fly solo across the Southern Atlantic Ocean. He died aged 40 after crashing into remote countryside near Florence, Italy during another solo flight record attempt. From "The Pageant of the Century". [Odhams Press Ltd, 1933]