On September 12th Jim flew, for the first time, the Trans Australian Airlines DC 4 named "John Eyre." John Eyre was a 19th century English explorer who spent a fair amount of time trudging around the outback of Australia. This plane was bound for there, but this time with media. Hazel Jackson of the Australian Women's Weekly was aboard. Departure was September 29, 1946 with Jim in the Captain's seat and arrival at Melbourne was on October 4th. Once there Jim enters a series of DC 4 training sessions with Trans Australian personnel.

Ms. Jackson posted her story of the crossing in the October 19, 1946 issue of her periodical. There was mention of Irene at the start of the story.

On Jim's return trip he happens to be aboard during another record setting leg of 8 hours 56 minutes from Honolulu to LA in a Lockheed Constellation. The DC 3 record flights of Jim's in 1941 & 1942 were something slightly less than 16 hours. Technology had advanced.