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165
The Aeroplane Speaks. Fifth Edition
·
H. Barber
28
PART
III
THE
GREAT
TEST
It
is
five
o'clock
of
a
fine
calm
morning,
when
the
Aeroplane
is
wheeled
out
of
its
shed
on
to
the
greensward
of
the
Military
Aerodrome.
There
is
every
promise
of
a
good
flying
day,
and,
although
the
sun
has
not
yet
risen,
it
is
light
enough
to
discern
the
motionless
layer
of
fleecy
clouds
some
five
thousand
feet
high,
and
far,
far
above
that
a
few
filmy
mottled
streaks
of
vapour.
Just
the
kind
of
morning
beloved
of
pilots.
A
brand
new,
rakish,
up-to-date
machine
it
is,
of
highly
polished,
beautifully
finished
wood,
fabric
as
tight
as
a
drum,
polished
metal,
and
every
part
so
perfectly
"stream-lined"
to
minimize
drift,
which
is
the
resistance
of
the
air
to
the
passage
of
the
machine,
that
to
the
veriest
tyro
the
remark
of
the
Pilot
is
obviously
justified.
"Clean
looking
'bus,
looks
almost
alive
and
impatient
to
be
off.
Ought
to
have
a
turn
for
speed
with
those
lines."
"Yes,"
replies
the
Flight-Commander,
"it's
the
latest
of
its
type
and
looks
a
beauty.
Give
it
a
good
test.
A
special
report
is
required
on
this
machine."
The
A.M.'s[8]
have
now
placed
the
Aeroplane
in
position
facing
the
gentle
air
that
is
just
beginning
to
make
itself
evident;
the
engine
Fitter,
having
made
sure
of
a
sufficiency
of
oil
and
petrol
in
the
tanks,
is
standing
by
the
Propeller;
the
Rigger,
satisfied
with
a
job
well
done,
is
critically
"vetting"
the
machine
by
eye;
four
A.M.'s
are
at
their
posts,
ready
to
hold
the
Aeroplane
from
jumping
the
blocks
which
have
been
placed
in
front
of
the
wheels;
and
the
Flight-Sergeant
is
awaiting
the
Pilot's
orders.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
