“Look out,” cautioned Miss Comstock, “or the film people will be offering you a contract.”
“No chance. You’ve got to be able to act.” Jane dabbed a bit of fresh powder on her cheeks and hurried out to greet Charlie Fischer. The tall pilot was wearing one chute pack and he carried another in his arms.
“Just about time to start,” he said. “The ships are over on the ramp warming up.”
Jane looked at Charlie’s plane. The speedy old biplane had been repainted and now was shining black. Just beyond it was a smaller and faster biplane painted to represent an army pursuit craft. It was this ship that Charlie was to handle.
Director James was waiting between the planes. He eyed Jane approvingly as she approached for she looked cool and business-like.
“You’re to fly as though attacking the No. 1 transport,” he told Jane. “Keep away from the second ship with the camera crew. Make it look good. We’ve got a machine gun mounted on your plane and when you dash in, pull the trigger and send bursts of blanks at the transport.”
While he was giving his instructions, the first transport roared into the air. As soon as the drone of the motors faded, he continued.
“On signal from the camera plane, Charlie will drop down on you. I want you two to make it look like a good aerial dog-fight. Twist and turn and do plenty of power diving. When you see a red flag waved from the camera plane, go into a dive and jerk the smoke pot lever that’s been rigged into your plane. That will release a cloud of smoke and make it appear that you’re going down in flames. All of this must be done above 3,000 feet. At 1,000 feet you level off for we won’t try to follow you with the cameras below that point. Think you understand everything?”
“I’m sure I do,” replied Jane.
“Don’t you worry,” put in Charlie. “This is going to be the best air action your cameras ever caught.”