This short trial flight which Harry made was considered by far the best that had been seen in Australia, both as regards speed and control. Getting off from the street was in itself a unique performance. The value of swift flight under precise control in warfare was appreciated by the onlookers as incalculable.
A few days later, on February 3rd to be precise, the Governor-General, Lord Denman, received a literally flying visit from Harry. It was shortly after luncheon, when Lord and Lady Denman, about to play tennis with some friends whom they were entertaining, were surprised by a telephone message to the effect that Harry had just left Elsternwick and would be over to see them in a few minutes. Their Excellencies had barely time to reach the lawn before a tiny speck became discernible against the blue sky and fleecy white clouds to the south-east. After very few minutes had elapsed, Harry in the Tabloid passed, seemingly slowly, over the massive buildings of Government House, at a height somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 feet. To those on the ground it was apparent that Harry had experienced no difficulty in finding his way, for he came straight as a die from the south-east, where Elsternwick lay, and as soon as he was above his destination he began to descend in a magnificent spiral, whizzing round and round and down and down at a terrific pace. As he came nearer to the ground he executed several manœuvres for the benefit of those below. Making sharp turns, he banked his machine to such a degree that many considered it miraculous that he kept his seat at all. Then, when above the polo ground and facing Government House, he glided down to the lawn, steeply and with startling suddenness.
Harry’s main concern while landing was thinking out how he should present himself to the Governor-General. As the Tabloid came to rest, like a great winged beetle, at the far end of the lawn, Lord Denman and his party walked over to it and came upon an unassuming, clean-shaven young man, clean and unruffled as if he had just done no more than merely walk from St. Kilda road opposite. A little bit nervous, Harry shook hands and thanked the Governor-General for the warm welcome. He had, he said, a very good flight from Elsternwick, and the stiff breeze which blew did not trouble him at all. The landing, too, had presented no difficulties.
Harry stayed for about half an hour, during which he explained his machine to his hosts. They were particularly interested in the cockpit and controls. Harry learned that Lord Denman was very interested in aviation and before going out to Australia had enjoyed one or two flights as a passenger in a Grahame-White biplane. There was also present Captain Pollocks, A.D.C. to the Governor-General, who had also had some flying experience in England. The departure was as informal as the arrival. The machine was pulled round a little so that it would have a clear run against the wind. Harry then said he thought he “had better be getting along,” and, after again thanking His Excellency for his warm reception, he climbed in and was away.
After skimming along the ground for thirty yards or so, the machine rose grandly over Government House and sailed at full speed round the grounds, under such perfect control that the whole business looked very simple. Again he banked his machine on sharp turns, and at times he appeared to be almost on the point of turning over. But Harry did not indulge in any trick flying of that nature, but was contented to attempt no more than well-balanced turns and “zooms.” One of his dives was so sudden that Harry’s manager, Mr. Sculthorpe, remarked that it looked more like the influence of an awkward air-pocket than an intentional manœuvre. After climbing to an altitude of about 3,500 feet, Harry at last headed south-east for Elsternwick, leaving a trail of smoke behind. In a few minutes the machine, after dwindling to a mere speck, passed from sight.
When informed subsequently of the allegation that Harry was far more nervous of meeting him than of flying in the teeth of a gale, Lord Denman laughingly said that so far as he could see, “This young Australian airman seemed to be little concerned over one thing or the other.” His Excellency added that the flight seemed not to have any physical effect on Harry. “His hand was as steady as mine when we met,” he said.
On his return to Elsternwick, Harry, feeling less restrained, gave an even more spirited display of fancy flying for the benefit of the crowd gathered to watch his landing. He alighted on the golf-links without incident, and after a brief rest made two more flights, each time accompanied by a passenger. His two passengers were two old Melbourne friends, Cecil de Frager, who subsequently lost his life in a motor-cycling accident in France while serving as a captain with the Australian Forces, and Maurice Smith.
Commenting on Harry’s flights, the Melbourne Argus remarked that a characteristic feature common to all of them was the complete absence of theatrical display. Harry flew as unconcernedly as an expert drove a motor-car, and apparently with the same degree of ease and comfort. He made the whole business delightfully simple, and his personal preparations before starting a flight were considerably less formal than those of a motorcyclist before mounting his machine. He wore ordinary clothes, his sole extra covering or protection being a pair of goggles. When he stepped on to the lawn at Government House he was not even ruffled. His hair was nicely parted and his tie straight. To the uninitiated it seemed absurd to think that he had been tearing through the air at 90 miles per hour, a mile above the earth. One could understand his not wearing a dustcoat in such circumstances, but might have expected something less ordinary than a lounge suit and a grey cap.
Another matter upon which the Press commented was the rapidity with which the Tabloid was prepared for action. At 2.20 p.m. the machine had been reposing more or less dismantled in the garage of the C.L.C. Motor Works. In less than an hour it was soaring aloft with a man, nearly as high up as the top of Mount Buffalo. In that brief interim the biplane was pulled out from its shed, the wings were attached, and everything made ready for flight. On no occasion did Harry omit to thoroughly examine his machine before flight.
Although his intention to fly to Government House had been kept a close secret, the flight was, of course, witnessed by several thousands of the populace, who happened to catch sight of the machine or hear the murmur of the Gnome engine as it passed high overhead. A large crowd, including nearly a hundred amateur and professional photographers, gathered at Elsternwick to see the start and end of the flights. A special exhibition of flying was arranged to take place at the Caulfield Racecourse, and while in the air Harry distributed handbills announcing the fact and vouchers valid for admission to the course.