Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 22 November 1937, page 1


PARACHUTE

JUMP

-3

FIRST WOMAN IN AUSTRALIA 3, 200FT. DESCENT

AT ESSENDON

In addition to being Australia's youngest girl pilot, Miss Jean Burns, aged 17 years, of Rathdown street, East Brunswick, achieved the distinction yesterday at Essendon of becoming Australia's first woman parachutist.

Jumping from the DH4 plane Spirit of Melbourne, belonging to Aerat Passenger Flying (Essendon) Pty. Ltd., at a height of 1200ft., Miss Burns made a successful landing in a paddock to the north of the aerodrome. The plane was piloted by Mr. Howard Morris.

More than 2,000 people witnessed

the descent.

Carried by Wind

Miss Burns was carried along by the wind for a short distance until a Moth plane landed near her. The pilot ran across and smothered the parachute. Miss Burns was then picked up by the Spirit of Melbourne, which also landed in the paddock, and was flown back to the aerodrome, where she was warmly congratulated by members of the

aero- club.

Miss Burns was the youngest girl to become an air pilot in Australia when she obtained her "A" licence in March. She was aged 17 years in December last. She began training with the Royal Victorian Aero Club just after attaining her 17th birth-day. She received instruction about parachutes from Mr. Felix Mueller, a well-known parachutist.

"It was wonderful," said Miss Burns after the descent. "My only fear was that I should land in a pond which I saw beneath me."

HER FIRST DESCENT

Crowds at Essendon aerodrome yesterday watched with bated breath as Miss Jean Burns, aged 17 years, one of Australia's youngest pilots, made her first parachute descent. She jumped from the Spirit of Melbourne at a height of 3,200 feet. The plucky girl is shown after her happy landing in a paddock at

Campbellfield.