Читать книгу H. G. Hawker, airman: his life and work онлайн

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“Up to the very minute of Raynham’s landing it is doubtful if a single person on Brooklands would have given a shilling for Hawker’s chance of putting up better time than Raynham with the latter’s hour and a half start; but things now changed, and as all eyes were turned upwards and ears listening to catch the rhythmic beating of the engine, the question went round: ‘Will he keep up for another two hours?’ The engine sounded happy enough, and if nothing happened there was no reason why he should not, as he had a big load of fuel. The excitement now began steadily to rise as the minutes were ticked off, and to the Sopwith enthusiasts every minute seemed an age. They all went back to find something to do that would pass the time more quickly, but had to come out again with dread in their hearts that they might find Hawker ‘taxi-ing’ along the ground.

“Gradually the time went along, and Hawker was still steadily travelling at his 400 feet altitude. Then Sopwith appeared on the scene at about four o’clock, and brought out his 70 h.p. Gnome Tractor biplane with the intention of cheering Hawker up a little. Taking Charteris as a passenger, he did one or two circuits, climbing up to Hawker’s level, then very skilfully cut across a sharp turn and came alongside. Hawker, in fear of not lasting out the time, had throttled down to the smallest amount he could fly with so as to economise petrol and oil; his machine was therefore very slow, and Sopwith had to switch off and dive a little so as not to pass him. The two on the Tractor waved frantically, and shouted encouragements, which, of course, Hawker could not hear at all, but which he undoubtedly understood. Down planed the Tractor again, leaving Hawker with just another half-hour to go through to equal Raynham’s time (which, by the way, was for 1 hour 35 minutes the British Duration Record).