e proprietors of the Daily Mail presented the skilful
and courageous pilot with a cheque for L1000 as a consolation gift.

In a later chapter some account will be given of the tremendous
development of the aeroplane during four years of war. But it is fitting
that to the three historic flights detailed above there should be added
the sensational exploits of the Marchese Giulio Laureati in 1917. This
intrepid Italian airman made a non-stop journey from Turin to Naples
and back, a distance of 920 miles. A month later he flew from Turin to
Hounslow, a distance of 656 miles, in 7 hours 22 minutes. His machine
was presented to the British Air Board by the Italian Government.

CHAPTER XXXIV. The Hydroplane and Air-boat

One of the most recent developments in aviation is the hydroplane, or
water-plane as it is most commonly called. A hydroplane is an aeroplane
fitted with floats instead of wheels, so that it will rise from, or
alight upon, the surface of the water. Often water-planes have their
floats removed and wheels affixed to the chassis, so that they may be
used over land.

From this you may think that the construction of a water-plane is quite
a simple task; but such is not the case. The fitting of floats to an
aeroplane has called for great skill on the part of the constructor, and
many difficulties have had to be overcome.

Those of you who have seen an acroplane rise from the ground know that
the machine runs very quickly over the earth at a rapidly-increasing
speed, until sufficient momentum is obtained for the machine to lift
itself into the air. In the case of the water-plane the pilot has to
glide or "taxi" by means of a float or floats over the waves until the
machine acquires flying speed.

Now the land resistance to the rubber-tired wheels is very small when
compared with the water resistance to the floats, and the faster the
craft goes the greater is the resistance. The great problem which the
constructor has had to solve is to build a machine fitted with floats
which will leave the water easily, which will preserve the lateral
balance of the machine, and which will offer the minimum resistance in
the air.

A short flat-bottomed float, such as that known as the Fabre, is good at
getting off from smooth water, but is frequently damaged when the sea is
rough. A long and narrow float is preferable for rough water, as it
is able to cut through the waves; but comparatively little "lift" is
obtained fro