NOEL PEMBERTON BILLING

摘要

Without doubt Noel Pemberton Billing was an unusual character. Visiting the Hendon flying field in north London during the summer of 1913, he ran into aviation pioneer Frederick Handley Page. During their conversation Billing wagered he could learn to fly and gain his aviator's certificate in just one day. This he achieved after a few brief lessons at a drizzly Brooklands, beginning at dawn on 17 September 1913. He piloted an ageing Farman biplane he had acquired specially for the challenge, passing his test before breakfast. Awarded certificate number 632, he also pocketed Handley Page's hefty £500 stake.