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journeyowing to the high and gusty winds which prevailed in the Trent
valley。 The plucky pilot intended to continue the flight early the next
morning； but during the night his biplane was blown over in a gale while it
stood in a field； and it was so badly damaged that the machine had to be
sent back to London to be repaired。
This took so long that his French rival； M。 Paulhan； was able to
complete his plans and start from Hendon； on 27th April。 So rapidly had
Paulhan's machine been transported from Dover； and 〃assembled〃 at
Hendon； that Mr。 White； whose biplane was standing ready at Wormwood
Scrubbs； was taken by surprise when he heard that his rival had started on
the journey and 〃stolen a march on him〃； so to speak。 Nothing daunted；
however； the plucky British aviator had his machine brought out； and he
went in pursuit of Paulhan late in the afternoon。 When darkness set in Mr。
White had reached Roade； but the French pilot was several miles ahead。
Now came one of the most thrilling feats in the history of aviation。 Mr。
White knew that his only chance of catching Paulhan was to make a flight
in the darkness； and though this was extremely hazardous he arose from a
small field in the early morning； some hours before daybreak arrived； and
flew to the north。 His friends had planned ingenious devices to guide him
on his way： thus it was proposed to send fast motor…cars； bearing very
powerful lights； along the route； and huge flares were lighted on the
railway； but the airman kept to his course chiefly by the help of the lights
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from the railway stations。
Over hill and valley； forest and meadow； sleeping town and slumbering
village； the airman flew； and when dawn arrived he had nearly overhauled
his rival； who； in complete ignorance of Mr。 White's daring pursuit； had
not yet started。
But now came another piece of very bad luck for the British aviator。 At
daybreak a strong wind arose； and Mr。 White's machine was tossed about
like a mere play…ball； so that he was compelled to land。 Paulhan； however；
who was a pilot with far more experience； was able to overcome the
treacherous air gusts； and he flew on to Manchester； arriving there in the
early morning。
Undoubtedly the better pilot won； and he had a truly magnificent
reception in Manchester and London； and on his return to France。 But this
historic contest laid the foundation of Mr。 Grahame…White's great
reputation as an aviator； and； as we all know； his fame has since become
world…wide。
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CHAPTER XXXIII Three Historic Flights （Cont。）
About a month after Paulhan had won the 〃London to Manchester〃
race； the world of aviation； and most of the general public too； were
astonished to read the announcement of another enormous prize。 This time
a much harder task was set； for the conditions of the contest stated that a
circuit of Britain had to be made； covering a distance of about 1000 miles
in one week； with eleven compulsory stops at fixed controls。
This prize was offered on 22nd May； 1910； and in the following year
seventeen competitors entered the lists。 It says much for the progress of
aviation at this time； when we read that； only a year before； it was difficult
to find but two pilots to compete in the much easier race described in the
last chapter。 Much of this progress was undoubtedly due to the immense
enthusiasm aroused by the success of Paulhan in the 〃London to
Manchester〃 race。
We will not describe fully the second race； because； though it was of
immense importance at the time； it has long since become a mere episode。
Rarely has Britain been in such great excitement as during that week in
July； 1911。
Engine troubles； breakdowns； and other causes soon reduced the
seventeen competitors to two only： Lieutenant Conneau； of the French
Navy…who flew under the name of M。 Beaumontand M。 Vedrines。 Neck
to neck they flewif we may be allowed this horse…racing expression
over all sorts of country； which was quite unknown to them。
Victory ultimately rested with Lieutenant Conneau； who； on 26th July；
1911； passed the winning…post at Brooklands after having completed the
course in the magnificent time of twenty…two hours； twenty…eight minutes；
averaging about 45 miles an hour for the whole journey。 M。 Vedrines；
though defeated； made a most plucky fight。 Conneau's success was due
largely to his ability to keep to the courseon two or three occasions
Vedrines lost his way and doubtless his naval training in map…reading
and observation gave him the advantage over his rival。
The third historic flight was made by Mr。 Harry Hawker； in August；
1913。 This was an attempt to win a prize of L5000 offered by the
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proprietors of the Daily Mail for a flight round the British coasts。 The
route was from Cowes； in the Isle of Wight； along the southern and eastern
coasts to Aberdeen and Cromarty； thence through the Caledonian Canal to
Oban； then on to Dublin； thence to Falmouth； and along the south coast to
Southampton Water。
Two important conditions of the contest were that the flight was to be
made in an all…British aeroplane； fitted with a British engine。 Hitherto our
aeroplane constructors and engine companies were behind their rivals
across the Channel in the building of air…craft and aerial engines； and this
country freely acknowledged the merits and enterprise of French aviators。
Though in the European War it was afterwards proved that the British
airman and constructor were the equals if not the superiors of any in the
world； at the date of this contest they were behind in many respects。
As these conditions precluded the use of the famous Gnome engine；
which had won so many contests； and indeed the employment of any
engine made abroad； the competitors were reduced to two aviation firms；
and as one or these ultimately withdrew from the contest the Sopwith
Aviation Company of