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the pantomime does when he climbs to the top of a staircase and rolls
deliberately over and over until he reaches the ground。 But this funny man
stopped before he reached the ground； and took his last flight as gracefully
as a Columbine with outspread skirts。〃
Time after time Pegoud made a series of S…shaped dives； somersaults；
and spiral descents； until； after an exhibition which thrilled quite 50；000
people； he planed gently to Earth。
Hitherto Pegoud's somersaults have been made by turning over from
front to back； but the daring aviator； and others who followed him；
afterwards turned over from right to left or from left to right。 Pegoud
claimed to have demonstrated that the aeroplane is uncapsizeable； and that
if a parachute be attached to the fuselage； which is the equivalent of a life
boat on board a ship； then every pilot should feel as safe in a heavier…than…
air machine as in a motor…car。
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CHAPTER XLIV The First Englishman to Fly
Upside Down
After M。 Pegoud's exhibition of upside…down flying in this country it
was only to be expected that British aviators would emulate his daring feat。
Indeed； on the same day that the little Frenchman was turning somersaults
in the air at Brooklands Mr。 Hamel was asking M。 Bleriot for a machine
similar to that used by Pegoud； so that he might demonstrate to airmen the
stability of the aeroplane in almost all conceivable positions。
However； it was not the daring and skilful Hamel who had the honour
of first following in Pegoud's footsteps； but another celebrated pilot； Mr。
Hucks。
Mr。 Hucks was an interested spectator at Brooklands when Pegoud
flew there in September； and he felt that； given similar conditions； there
was no reason why he should not repeat Pegoud's performance。 He
therefore talked the matter over with M。 Bleriot； and began practising for
his great ordeal。
His first feat was to hang upside…down in a chair supported by a beam
in one of the sheds； so that he would gradually become accustomed to the
novel position。 For a time this was not at all easy。 Have you ever tried to
stand on your hands with your feet upwards for any length of time？ To
realize the difficulty of being head downwards； just do this； and get
someone to hold your legs。 The blood will； of course； 〃rush to the head〃；
as we say； and the congestion of the blood…vessels in this part of the body
will make you feel extremely dizzy。 Such an occurrence would be fatal in
an aeroplane nearly a mile high in the air at a time when one requires an
especially clear brain to manipulate the various controls。
But； strange to say； the airman gradually became used to the 〃heels…
over…head〃 position； and； feeling sure of himself； he determined to start on
his perilous undertaking。 No one with the exception of M。 Bleriot and the
mechanics were present at the Buc aerodrome； near Versailles； when Mr。
Hucks had his monoplane brought out with the intention of looping the
loop。
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He quickly rose to a height of 1500 feet； and then； slowly dipping the
nose of his machine； turned right over。 For fully half a minute he flew
underneath the monoplane； and then gradually brought it round to the
normal position。
In the afternoon he continued his experiments； but this time at a height
of nearly 3000 feet。 At this altitude he was flying quite steadily； when
suddenly he assumed a perpendicular position； and made a dive of about
600 feet。 The horrified spectators thought that the gallant aviator had lost
control of his machine and was dashing straight to Earth； but quickly he
changed his direction and slowly planed upwards。 Then almost as
suddenly he turned a complete somersault。 Righting the aeroplane； he rose
in a succession of spiral flights to a height of between 3000 and 3500 feet；
and then looped the loop twice in quick succession。
On coming to earth M。 Bleriot heartily congratulated the brave
Englishman。 Mr。 Hucks admitted a little nervousness before looping the
loop； but； as he remarked： 〃Once I started to go round my nervousness
vanished； and then I knew I was coming out on top。 It is all a question of
keeping control of your nerves； and Pegoud deserved all the credit； for he
was the first to risk his life in flying head downwards。〃
Mr。 Hucks intended to be the first Englishman to fly upside down in
England； but he was forestalled by one of our youngest airmen； Mr。
George Lee Temple。 On account of his youthMr。 Temple was only
twenty…one at the time when he first flew upside…downhe was known as
the 〃baby airman〃； but there was probably no more plucky airman in the
world。
There were special difficulties which Mr。 Temple had to overcome that
did not exist in the experiments of M。 Pegoud or Mr。 Hucks。 To start with；
his machinea 50…horse…power Bleriot monoplanewas said by the
makers to be unsuitable for the performance。 Then he could get no
assistance from the big aeroplane firms； who sought to dissuade him from
his hazardous undertaking。 Experienced aviators wisely shook their heads
and told the 〃baby airman〃 that he should have more practice before he
took such a risk。
But notwithstanding this lack of encouragement he practised hard for a
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few days by hanging in an inverted position。 Meanwhile his mechanics
were working night and day in strengthening the wings of the monoplane；
and fitting it with a slightly larger elevator。
On 24th November； 1913； he decided to 〃try his luck〃 at the London
aerodrome。 He was harnessed into his seat； and； bidding his friends
farewell； with the words 〃wish me luck〃； he went aloft。 For nearly half an
hour he climbed upward； and swooped over the aerodrome in wide circles；
while his friends far below were watching every action of his machine。
Suddenly an alarming incident occurred。 When about a mile high in
the air the machine tipped downwards and rushed towards Earth at terrific
speed。 Then the tail of the machine came up； and the 〃baby airman〃 was
hanging head downwards。
But at this point the group of airmen standing in the aerodrome were
filled with alarm； for it was quite evident to their experienced eyes that the
monoplane was not under proper control。 Indeed； it was actually side…
slipping； and a terrible disaster appeared imminent。 For hundreds of feet
the young pilot； still hanging head downwards； was crashing to Earth； but
when down to about 1200 feet from the ground the machine gradually
came round； and Mr。 Temple descended safely to Earth。
The airman afterwards told his friends that for several seconds he
could not get the machine to answer the controls； and for a time he was
falling at a speed of 100 miles an hour。 In ordinary circumstances he
thought that a dive of 500 feet after the upside…down stretch should get
him the right way up； but it really took him nearly 1500 feet。 Fortunately；
however； he commenced the dive at a great altitude； and so the distance
side…slipped did not much matter。
It is sad to relate that Mr。 Temple lost his life in January； 1914； while
flying at Hendon in a treacherous wind。 The actual cause of the accident
was never clearly understood。 He had not fully recovered from an attack
of influenza； and it was thought that he fainted and fell over the control
lever while descending near one of the pylons； when the machine 〃turned
turtle〃； and the pilot's neck was broken。
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CHAPTER XLV Accidents and their Cause
〃Another airman killed！〃 〃There'll soon be none of those flying
fellows left！〃 〃Far too risky a game！〃 〃Ought to be stopped by law！〃
How many times have we heard these； a