CHAPTER XXI
Harry had elected to pilot a Nieuport Goshawk biplane in the Aerial Derby on Saturday, July 16th, 1921. Another pilot had already attained a speed of 166 miles per hour on this machine, and Harry hoped to maintain British prestige in competition with the principal French champions, or “Aces,” who were coming over with machines on which they had exceeded that speed. In short, Harry would get the best possible performance out of the aeroplane.
“Hawker, Ennadale, Hook Rd., Surbiton.—Machine ready for flying Tuesday afternoon.—Folland.”
So reads the telegram which Harry received on Saturday, July 9th, intimating that on the following Tuesday the machine would be ready for him to test.
Those who closely followed aviation during the late spring and early summer of 1921 will remember that there was a striking coincidence between a spell of exceptionally hot weather and an unusually large number of flying accidents (although not all fatal).