Amy Johnson was the first woman to have flown solo from England to Australia in May 1930 – a distance of 17,600 kms. In 1936, she also achieved a record breaking solo flight from England to South Africa. In July 1933 she and her husband made a transatlantic flight from England to America. It was the first non stop flight from the two countries. Her flying career began in 1928, and her other triumphs included becoming the first female ground engineer licensed by the Air Ministry.