A hasty examination of the field showed it to be suitable for night flying and we hailed the first car passing for a ride into the town. We had difficulty in locating our fireworks and, as the stores were all closed, still more time was lost before we obtained the bailwire, nails and boards used in building the framework for the flares and candles and attaching it to the plane.
It was nearly midnight when the ship was at last ready for the display. Only one car remained on the field. We ran this machine out beside the strawstack and placed it in a position to show up on one side of the stack, in addition to throwing most of its light on the field. I was about to take-off when the headlights on the car became so dim that they were entirely useless. One of the men had a pocket flashlight and I took-off while he threw its beam on the strawstack.
It was eleven-forty when I left the ground and eleven-fifty seven when the last flare had burned out. Our contract had been fulfilled with three minutes to spare.
I located the field by the flashing of the spotlight and levelled off and landed by its beam.
© Wide World Photos
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM—WITH CROWN PRINCE LEOPOLD DURING THE OFFICIAL RECEPTION
© Wide World Photos
LONDON, ENGLAND—WITH H. R. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND LORD LONSDALE (LEFT) IN THE ROYAL BOX AT THE DERBY BALL