Amy Mollison sets a new world record when she flies from England to Cape Town in 3 days 6 hours and 26 minutes

Date: 7 May 1936
Updated: 6 May 2022

Amy Mollison (Nee Johnson) was an English Aviator who set numerous flying records during the 1930’s. She married fellow aviator Jim Mollison and the couple often flew together. in 1936, she broke her husband’s record when she flew from England to Cape Town in 3 days, 6 hours and 36 minutes. Mollison’s pilot career only began as a hobby, but it would bring her critical acclaim. She was the first woman ever to fly solo. She died in 1941 when her plane got caught in bad weather and was forced to abandon it by launching her parachute. She was spotted landing in water, but the bad weather and snowfall meant that she was not fully visible. She is assumed to have drowned in the cold water as her body was never recovered. A man who dived into the water to try and rescue her also lost his life in the process.

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How we know this

01History Amy Johnson Biography[online] Available at: https://www.history.co.uk[Accessed on 2 May 2013]
02Science Museum Amy Johnson [online] Available at: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk [Accessed on 2 may 2013]

Last updated · 6 May 2022

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, May 3). Amy Mollison sets a new world record when she flies from England to Cape Town in 3 days 6 hours and 26 minutes. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095579

South African History Online (2013) 'Amy Mollison sets a new world record when she flies from England to Cape Town in 3 days 6 hours and 26 minutes', South African History Online, 3 May. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095579 (Accessed: 23 August 2026).

South African History Online, Amy Mollison sets a new world record when she flies from England to Cape Town in 3 days 6 hours and 26 minutes [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095579, (accessed 23 August 2026).

"Amy Mollison sets a new world record when she flies from England to Cape Town in 3 days 6 hours and 26 minutes." South African History Online, 3 May 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095579. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Amy Mollison sets a new world record when she flies from England to Cape Town in 3 days 6 hours and 26 minutes." South African History Online. May 3, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095579.