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these trials he astonished everyone by obtaining a speed of over 70 miles
an hour in his biplane； which weighed 2600 pounds。
In the opening years of the present century Cody spent much time in
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demonstrations with huge box…kites； and for a time this form of kite was
highly popular with boys of North London。 In these kites he made over
two hundred flights； reaching； on some occasions； an altitude of over 2000
feet。 At all times of the day he could have been seen on the slopes of the
Palace Hill； hauling these strange…looking； bat…like objects backward and
forward in the wind。 Reports of his experiments appeared in the Press； but
Cody was generally looked upon as a 〃crank〃。 The War Office； however；
saw great possibilities in the kites for scouting purposes in time of war；
and they paid Cody L5000 for his invention。
It is a rather romantic story of how Cody came to take up experimental
work with kites； and it is repeated as it was given by a Mohawk chief to a
newspaper representative。
〃On one occasion when Cody was in a Lancashire town with his Wild
West show； his son Leon went into the street with a parrot…shaped kite。
Leon was attired in a red shirt； cowboy trousers； and sombrero； and soon a
crowd of youngsters in clogs was clattering after him。
〃'If a boy can interest a crowd with a little kite； why can't a man
interest a whole nation？' thought Codyand so the idea of man…lifting
kites developed。〃
In 1903 Cody made a daring but unsuccessful attempt to cross the
Channel in a boat drawn by two kites。 Had he succeeded he intended to
cross the Atlantic by similar means。
Later on； Cody turned his attention to the construction of aeroplanes；
but he was seriously handicapped by lack of funds。 His machines were
built with the most primitive tools； and some of our modern constructors；
working in well…equipped 〃shops〃； where the machinery is run by electric
plant； would marvel at the work accomplished with such tools as those
used by Cody。 Most of Cody's flights were made on Laffan's Plain； and he
took part in the great 〃Round Britain〃 race in 1911。 It was characteristic of
the man that in this race he kept on far in the wake of MM。 Beaumont and
Vedrines； though he knew that he had not the slightest chance of winning
the prize； and； days after the successful pilot had arrived back at
Brooklands； Cody's 〃bus〃 came to earth in the aerodrome。 〃It's dogged as
does it；〃 he remarked； 〃and I meant to do the course； even if I took a year
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over it。〃
Of Cody's sad death at Farnborough； when practising in the ill…fated
water…plane which he intended to pilot in the sea flight round Great Britain
in 1913； we speak in a later chapter。
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CHAPTER XXXII Three Historic Flights
When the complete history of aviation comes to be written； there will
be three epoch…making events which will doubtless be duly appreciated by
the historian； and which may well be described as landmarks in the history
of flight。 These are the three great contests organized by the proprietors of
the Daily Mail； respectively known as the 〃London to Manchester〃 flight；
the 〃Round Britain flight in an aeroplane〃； and the 〃Water…plane flight
round Great Britain。〃
In any account of aviation which deals with the real achievements of
pioneers who have helped to make the science of flight what it is to…day； it
would be unfair not to mention the generosity of Lord Northcliffe and his
co…directors of the Daily Mail towards the development of aviation in this
country。 Up to the time of writing； the sum of L24；750 has been paid by
the Daily Mail in the encouragement of flying； and prizes to the amount of
L15；000 are still on offer。 In addition to these prizes this journal has
maintained pilots who may be described as 〃Missionaries of Aviation〃。
Perhaps the foremost of them is M。 Salmet； who has made hundreds of
flights in various parts of the country； and has aroused the greatest
enthusiasm wherever he has flown。
The progress of aviation undoubtedly owes a great deal to the Press；
for the newspaper has succeeded in bringing home to most people the fact
that the possession of air…craft is a matter of national importance。 It was of
little use for airmen to make thrilling flights up and down an aerodrome；
with the object of interesting the general public； if the newspapers did not
record such flights； and though in the very early days of aviation some
newspapers adopted an unfriendly attitude towards the possibilities of
practical aviation； nearly all the Press has since come to recognize the
aeroplane as a valuable means of national defence。 Right from the start the
Daily Mail foresaw the importance of promoting the new science of flight
by the award of prizes； and its public…spirited enterprise has done much to
break up the prevailing apathy towards aviation among the British nation。
If these three great events had been mere spectacles and nothing else
such as； for instance； that great horse…race known as 〃The Derby〃this
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chapter would never have been written。 But they are most worthy of
record because all three have marked clearly…defined stepping…stones in
the progress of flight； they have proved conclusively that aviation is
practicable； and that its ultimate entry into the busy life of the world is no
more than a matter of perfecting details。
The first L10；000 prize was offered in November； 1906； for a flight by
aeroplane from London to Manchester in twenty…four hours； with not more
than two stoppages en route。 In 1910 two competitors entered the lists for
the flight； one； an Englishman； Mr。 Claude Grahame…White； the other； a
Frenchman； M。 Paulhan。
Mr。 Grahame…White made the first attempt； and he flew remarkably
well too； but he was forced to descend at Lichfieldabout 113 miles on the
journeyowing to the high and gusty winds which prevailed in the Trent
vall