When the other Brighton boys learned that Bob had actually been up in the air, there was a natural desire among them all to do likewise.  Jimmy Hill made up his mind it would not be long before he had a flight.  Adams, one of the instructors who had recently arrived, wanted a hand to help him tune up a new school machine that was fitted with dual control, i.e., that had a double set of levers so that the novice could guide the machine while the instructor had a restraining hand on them in case of emergencies.  Reece, Jimmy Hill’s great friend, was called away to make a test flight just as Adams spoke to him about a good helper, and told Adams that he could not do better than give Jimmy a chance to lend a hand.

“The boy will do what he is told,” said Reece.  “All you have to do is to explain just what you want done.  He is dependable.  Try him.  He is a nice boy, too, and you will like to have him round.”

So Jimmy worked that day and the next on the new school machine.  Finally it was ready.

“Wait till I take her up for a bit and see how she pulls and I will give you a runaround in her,” said Adams to Jimmy.  The instructor had been highly pleased with the way the boy had worked, and felt anxious to give him a treat.

Thus Jimmy had his first flight.  Further, he was shown by Adams how to hold the controls, though he was careful to put no pressure on them.  Next day Adams said, “Come on.  I will show you how we start teaching flying where I come from.”

Before half an hour passed Jimmy found he could “taxi,” as Adams called running along the ground, quite well.  That was but a beginning.  Three times in the following week Adams took the boy out for a lesson; and the practical experience, though limited, gave Jimmy a very good idea of what was required of much of the adjustments and finer points of tuning up that he had learned to see Reece do in the sheds.

At last Adams made a short flight and let Jimmy handle the machine for a few moments alone, the instructor removing his hands from his control levers and leaving the job to Jimmy.  It was a simple enough little flight, but Jimmy had the knowledge that he had been actually flying the machine for a time, all by himself, which pleased him beyond measure.

One of the red-letter days the Brighton boys were long to remember was that on which they first watched a new arrival to the airdrome, an experienced flier, loop the loop and nose-dive on one of the fast chasers.  The whirling, darting plane seemed so completely at the mercy of the pilot that the boys were rapt in silent wonder.  That exhibition of what the birdmen of to-day call real flying was a revelation to them.

It held out promise of long study and careful practice far ahead before they could hope to equal or excel the cool, modest young aviator who came down so gracefully after a series of side loops that made most of the spectators hold their breath.