Hinkler, Herbert John Louis

Hinkler, Herbert John Louis (1892-193 3), Australian airman.

Bert Hinkler was one of the most famous pilots of his time.

He made the first solo flight from England to Australia. He took off from London on 7 February, 1928 in a tiny Avro Avian biplane and reached Port Darwin, 11,000 miles (17,703 km) away, fifteen and a half days later (22 February). The previous fastest time for a flight from England to Australia was twenty-eight days.

In October-December 1931, Hinkler made another notable solo flight in a de Havilland Puss Moth. He flew from New York to London by way of Central America and the South Atlantic, a distance of  10,500 miles (16,898 km).

On 7 January, 1933 he was flying from England to Australia when his aircraft crashed in the Alps and he was killed.