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There are loads of places around the UK which are associated with Britain’s aerospace
industry. Some of them might be near to where you live! Let’s spin the propeller and see
where we’re headed today! We’re off to Kingston upon Hull. Let’s
get ready for take-off! Kingston upon Hull is in the north of the
UK. It’s a big city in an area called the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Now, whilst Hull has its own airport, that’s not why we’re here. Hull was home to an
amazing pilot – and she was another Amy – Amy Johnson.
Amy Johnson was born in 1903 – the very early days of aviation! By the time she was
26, she’d not only got her pilots licence but an engineer’s licence too. And just
two years later – in 1930 – she undertook an enormous journey – a solo flight from
the UK all the way to AUSTRALIA. It was the first time that a woman had made
a solo flight of that length - it took her 19 days. At the end of her journey she was
exhausted - sick from the fumes of petrol, and burned and blistered from the sun. But
she’d done it! An incredible achievement and even to this day no other woman has made
the journey solo. Her adventures didn’t stop there – in
the second world war, Amy joined the Air Transport Auxiliary, whose job was to transport RAF
aircraft around the country. Sadly she went missing after her plane crashed in the Thames
when she was only 37. She never forgot Hull - and to reward children
who had been especially brave, she set up an award called the Amy Johnson Cup of Courage.
It’s still awarded today to children who have performed acts of bravery. Hull’s got
a lot to be proud about! I wonder what we’ll discover next?
Catch me then!