CHAPTER XII
Harry was flying at Brooklands on Saturday, July 4th, 1914, when from a height of 11,000 feet he could plainly discern the Isle of Wight, so good was the visibility. A week later his machine arrived from Australia. He lost no time in assembling the Tabloid, for during the afternoon and on the morrow he gave looping exhibitions on it. These Sunday exhibitions became a regular institution, and Harry’s demonstrations were frequently referred to by the technical Press as the “finest ever seen.”
On Monday, July 13th, Harry flew to Farnborough and back on the Tabloid, certain parts of which had been replaced by modifications since its return from the South. The principal alterations were the application of a lateral dihedral angle to the lower planes and the uncovering of the rear part of the fuselage, the latter feature resembling in some measure the practice adopted by Blériot in his early monoplane designs. These changes were made to improve the suitability of the machine for looping-the-loop.
For looping displays at Brooklands during the period July 13th to 31st, 1914, Harry received bonuses amounting to £30.
Public interest in displays of looping-the-loop was at its zenith about this time, and Harry was kept very busy satisfying the craze, until war was declared. On August 4th, the fateful day, he delivered his pet looper to the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough.
By this time the Commonwealth of Australia had a flying-school in good working order and instruction had begun in earnest. It was generally conceded that the great enthusiasm which the Australians had for flying was largely aroused by the demonstrations which Harry gave there and the pronounced views which he expressed.
So far as the public were concerned, nothing more of Harry’s flying was seen for several months after war was declared, until early in March there arrived at Hendon, after journeying by air, a two-seater tandem Sopwith biplane, a development of the Tweenie and of a size intermediate to the Scout and the standard two-seater: and the pilot was Harry.
The privileged few who saw this businesslike-looking machine gleaned from Harry that it climbed exceedingly well, besides being easy to handle and comfortable to fly. Those who had not had an opportunity to watch Harry’s piloting during the previous few months were particularly gratified to see him coming in from Brooklands at a high speed and exhibiting that brilliancy which characterised his piloting in happier days of looping exhibitions and race meetings.
Harry’s flying visits to Hendon were very frequent about this time, partly because there was a very big training centre of the Royal Naval Air Service there, in charge of the late Commander J. C. Porte, R.N. On one occasion it was noticed he was flying for a long period far beyond the precincts of the aerodrome, and numerous guesses were made as to the cause, ranging from the belief that he had lost his way to another that his engine had stopped and he was floating about, unable to get down! When finally he had landed it was ascertained that he had merely been completing the Admiralty one-hour test of a new machine.