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

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“The next half hour was the worst period experienced by a great number of the Brooklands clan, and it is doubtful if any other event ever held on the ground has caused so much interest. Tea was forgotten altogether, and exact minutes and seconds were in the greatest demand, everybody walking about watch in hand. After ten more minutes had passed it was observed that Hawker had throttled really to the very limit so as not to run the slightest risk of running short of petrol. The machine was flying at a terrible angle, with the tail pointing strongly earthwards, and the spectators began to feel nervous. Another shutter was acquired, on which was whitewashed: ‘Keep your tail up,’ and this was displayed for the pilot, who, however, took but little notice of it.

“Gradually the minutes passed, and a little crowd gathered round the timekeeper, who slowly (horribly slowly to some) counted 9 minutes, 8 minutes, and so on. ‘One more circuit will do it!’ someone cried, and it did, and as the last seconds passed away, never to be recalled, a huge sigh escaped from the lips of everybody. To some it was a sigh of relief, to others perhaps not, but now the crisis was over everybody was sporting enough to express admiration for a very plucky flight.