Log book shows pilot Amy Johnson loved taking plane for joyride

Covering the years from when she was learning to fly until just before the outbreak of the Second World War, the log book includes the Hull-born pilot’s record-breaking flights and her historic solo flight to Australia in 1930.

The original document can be seen at Sewerby Hall, near Bridlington, but it is the first time a complete transcript has been made available on the East Riding Museums website.

Museums registrar Dr David Marchant said it had been a challenge as her handwriting was quite hard to decipher.

The entries, said Dr Marchant, “reveal her love of flying for its own sake – she often puts ‘joyriding’ down as the reason for a flight”.

As well as her long-haul trips it details landings at Hedon Aerodrome, now earmarked for the Yorkshire Energy Park.

Dr Marchant said she often forgot to fill in the log book for weeks at a time and then had to put down estimates.

He said: “I reckon Amy was a bit bored with rules and regulations at times and found completing the record a bit of a chore.

“Over the years, we’ve had many inquiries about whether Amy had visited a particular place so this transcript will hopefully be of benefit to those researching Amy’s flying history.”

Sewerby Hall and Gardens holds the entire collection of objects and memorabilia collected by Amy and donated to Sewerby by her father.

The transcript can be found at: https://www.eastridingmuseums.co.uk/museums-online/#er-mus-logbook