8 March 1937

Dear Bob:

Your last letter was a "Honey." Don't cast naughty sayings at my "Commandaire" - the construction is perfect but the one-cylinder wonder of an engine that "Jock" has installed in it isn't. Note his average air speed, 70 mph, which is about 5 mph above normal gliding speed for such an aircraft. Talking about down drafts, that machine would go down about 100 feet passing over a patch of snow -on account of engine power of course.

Note wind clawing at machine and screaming through struts and bracing wires. (Plane travels with wind, thus and impossibility - at 70 mph practically no sound on flying wires.

With 70 mph airspeed its a wonder he moved forward at all - at that he must have run full out.

The average everyday flying in foggy England in the R.A.F. puts that kind of stuff in the shade. I have done over ten hours' blind flying in service machines alone, so far, on top of regular dual and solo.

I don't know why I was so dumb as to catch the flu, but that's that. I am put back a month at F.T.S., but it doesn't worry me, and this station is okay and am I piling up the flying time!

Today my instructor and I did a 300 mile cross country - yours truly doingä air pilotage (navigation) and flying. Every so often - "what town is that?" (This from the rear). I hit every 'drome dead on the nail (triangular) - so a very successful morning was had by all.

You tell me to sass my superiors occasionally - one look at these boys and you'd forget the idea immediately. The mere fact that I'm Canadian (same applies to Australians and New Zealanders) gets me into extra lectures. The officers go to extreme lengths in discussing the importance of discipline, etc., etc., general efficiency, etc., etc. I have been told by the Aussies that they each got a separate little bit added in on their interviews about discipline. The English man wouldn't dream about insubordination.

Even common road labourers talk to the foreman with "Yes Sir!" The chief batman at mess gets "Yes Sir!" from the other batman. You even get this a little in Eastern Canada, but Westerners - Huh! I'm as good as you.

I am sorry to here Mrs. Edwards' mother died. She was a grand person. If Mrs. Bamborough is in London I shall probably be able to run down and see her some weekend. She'll be over for the Coronation I expect.

Bill Edwards was telling me he visited you on Sunday and would visit you again Easter. He seemed very struck with general health etc. of family.

I can't seem to get much time to write any more. This physical fitness racket is going to put me in the grave. Seven a.m. doing physical jerks while cold, raw dawn spreads across the skies. Yours truly could spend time better in bed.

They're making us as hard as nails and the other day a new order came in to stress aerobatics more in general flying, so the new stomach exercises are probably for this. Oh! for five minutes' straight and level! (Cry! in a few weeks' time).

The Australians were telling me they had strict orders to stay with the machine if it caught fire in the air and bring it in the approved style (side slip flames away). Australia couldn't afford to keep buying new machines. If my machine catches fire in the air I jump G - nats to the British taxpayer. A snap of my fingers to $60,000 - a mere nothing to me.

One of our chaps was side slipping into forced landing ground and at the same time admiring aerobatics of another machine and crack - he heard his wheel hit the ground. He roared his engine, then went around and flew low so the sun could cast a shadow to show him whether both wheels were on. (Not bad for initiative I say - I don't think anyone else would have thought of the idea). He came back and landed. Another chap took his plane up. He casually said, "I hope the wheel doesn't drop off while he's flying the machine." That's what he said, so I asked him about it and got the above story. Innocent pilot just taking off wouldn't feel so confident if he knew life story of undercarriage. It will be thoroughly checked tonight at inspection and anyway, don't fly it.

Did you know they have a crash truck with asbestos-clothed duty men and 50 assorted tools. Engine kept warm all the time we are flying.

Also one ambulance on duty warned to rush out in case of accidents. I hope they don't get too bored waiting. Every man wants to succeed.

Love Bill