Air Stories — page 39: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SECRET OF KALUNDA the African continent low on _ the southern horizon. Below, the cigar- shaped ‘‘ Uproarious’’ forged ahead through the green water at the meeting point of two white lines of foam which sped from her bows and widened astern, to appear like some gigantic arrow-head. The formation complete, the leader twice circled the ship, waiting for the signal announcing that the landing practice could begin. The flight was to make three landings. Then the other flight would carry out a similar practice. After tea would come the Ospreys’ turn. The landing signal appeared on the deck below. HE pilots were to land in the order they had taken-off, and Squadron Leader Vachell stood on a_ sunken platform aft, abreast of the four steel cables which were the arrester-gear, anxiously watching the first of his machines come gliding in. It flattened out gradually as speed fell away, missed the first cable and hooked the second. The cable shot out, flattening the two ahead, and six supporting arms fell on the steel deck with a thunderous crash. The pilot was brought to a standstill in a few yards. He had judged the landing nicely, but then Rogers generally did. The ‘‘ rabbit trap ’’—as the arrester- gear was popularly known—being again in position, the green flag was flown and the second Nimrod came gliding down. Croft was the pilot, and knowing his erratic habits, Vachell fretted ner- vously as he watched. Croft came in low enough, but travelling much too fast to get his tail down. He missed all four cables and shot along the deck. Men surged up from either side, but there was no need for alarm. The Kestrel roared out and Croft circled round again. This time he made no mistake. Bu he had given Vachell a nasty moment. Meek flew the third machine. He was feeling rather bored, and regretted that after all they were not going to Spanish waters. At least that might have provided This sort of flying some excitement. was good fun, but not satisfying enough. It acted like an appetiser. The ‘‘ Uproarious’’ grew and grew between his centre-section, and he decided to miss the first three cables and hook the fourth. The decision indicated the kind of pilot he was. He could almost play this game blindfold. He decided, too, that he would take it rather fast by way of adding to the fun of the thing. So that Vachell, watching, got a second shock. He saw the Nimrod swoop down and then dart along the deck, so low that its wheels brushed the cable tops. It was obvious to him that it could not be hooked, for its tail was still high. To bring the tail down now would cause the machine to zoom, unless it was brought down suddenly and at exactly the right instant of time. And to achieve this entailed such a nicety of judgment that Vachell never even con- sidered it. So that when it did happen, he took it for a fluke. He had sprung from his platform on to the deck even as the fourth cable shot out with even more clatter than usual, then climbed back again and mopped his forehead. When he had somewhat recovered his nerve he went below and found Meek. ‘You are the most benighted ass ! ”’ he exclaimed. ‘‘ As near as a toucher you went into the drink, and that would have meant the loss of a perfectly good aircraft.’’ Helmet in hand and sandy hair awry, and with a puzzled look in his mild blue eyes, Meek gazed speechless at his superior. Words of explanation rushed to his lips, for he had a nimble brain. * But they found no utterance since it was the tongue that lagged. ‘* Sorry, sir,’’? he said at last. Just that. ‘“So I should think!’’ stormed Vachell. ‘‘ Don’t do it again. You were much too fast. Come in more owly in future, and if in doubt open Meek made no reply. But he came in~more slowly for his next landing. So much so that Vachell was seized by yet another spasm. He felt CoOmicooks.com