▁the ▁found ing ▁Director ▁of ▁K LM , ▁selected ▁M oll ▁for ▁the ▁flight ▁to ▁Australia ▁because ▁he ▁had ▁already ▁flow n ▁to ▁Australia . ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 1 , ▁M oll ▁fle w ▁the ▁K N IL M ▁F ok ker ▁F V II B ▁PK - AF C ▁Ab el ▁Tas man ▁on ▁a ▁prov ing ▁flight ▁for ▁a ▁proposed ▁air mail ▁service ▁from ▁Bat avia ▁( N ether lands ▁East ▁Ind ies ) ▁to ▁Sydney ▁and ▁th ence ▁to ▁Melbourne . ▁ ▁de ▁Hav ill and ▁D H . 8 8 ▁Com et ▁racing ▁aircraft ▁especially ▁designed ▁for ▁the ▁event ▁were ▁favour ites ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁speed ▁section . ▁A ▁married ▁couple , ▁popular ▁av i ators ▁Jim ▁and ▁Amy ▁M oll ison , ▁known ▁in ▁the ▁press ▁as ▁the ▁" f lying ▁sweet he arts ", ▁fle w ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁Com ets , ▁named ▁" Black ▁Magic ". ▁Jim ▁M oll ison ▁was ▁a ▁pione ering ▁Scottish ▁pilot ▁who ▁had ▁flow n ▁commer cially ▁for ▁Charles ▁Kings ford ▁Smith ▁and ▁Charles ▁Ul m ' s ▁ill - f ated ▁Australian ▁National ▁Air ways . ▁His ▁wife ▁Amy ▁was ▁Amy ▁Johnson , ▁who ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 3 0 ▁had ▁become ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁fly ▁solo ▁from ▁England ▁to ▁Australia , ▁flying ▁a ▁de ▁Hav ill and ▁D H ▁ 6 0 ▁Gi ps y ▁M oth ▁" J ason ". ▁English ▁av i ators ▁Fl ight ▁Lieutenant ▁Charles ▁Scott ▁and ▁Ken yan ▁coffee ▁plant