“The greatest air thriller ever performed,” the announcer was informing the crowd. “Two costly airplanes, speeding at more than 100 miles an hour, will positively crash head-on at an altitude of 2,000 feet. It’s daring, death-defying, breath-taking in its thrills. You’ll be glued to your seats when you see these ships hurl towards each other piloted by Ace McDowell and Tommy Larkin, two of the foremost flyers in the nation. They’ll go aloft in fifteen minutes. In the meantime, there’s time for one more ride in the passenger planes. Let’s go, folks.”
The old trainers had been kept in the hangars where a field crew had given them a hasty coat of paint that morning. They glistened bravely in their new dress and the motors, which were turning over slowly, sounded sweet.
Tim inspected the ship that Tommy was to fly. If it held together long enough to get to 2,000 feet Tommy would be lucky but with a chute on, he’d be able to get out if anything happened before they straightened out for the crash.
McDowell’s ship was in better condition. It was well rigged and Tim, squinting under the hood, was surprised to see a big Barko 16-cylinder motor turning the prop over. The old plane’s lines were good. It was still plenty fast enough to give the average modern ship a good race. Too bad to sacrifice a sturdy old veteran like that just to appease the thrill-seekers.
Tim looked around for Ralph, who had gone over to the pilot’s room in the administration building. His companion was nowhere in sight but McDowell and Tommy, their chute packs banging awkwardly against their legs, were making their way toward the hangar. McDowell’s own monoplane had been rolled inside.
McDowell was giving Tommy final instructions as they entered the hangar.
“We’ll take our time getting up to 2,000,” he said. “Then we’ll circle around and make several false rushes at each other. After three or four times I’ll waggle my wings and the next time we’ll let them go. We’ll be west of the field where the ships won’t do any damage when they crash. Stick with them as long as you can and then go overboard. Got that all straight?”
Tommy, a little grim, nodded.
“I’ll handle my end of it,” he said, climbing into the cockpit of the ancient trainer.
McDowell, eyes narrowed to slits as hard as steel, looked at the crowd.