she beat all records by attaining a speed of 126 miles per
hour. Where this performance is mainly interesting is in
contrast to the machines of 1920, which with an even higher
speed capacity would yet be able to land at not more than 40 or
50 miles per hour, and would be thoroughly efficient flying
machines.

The Rheims Aviation Meeting, at which the Gordon-Bennett race
was flown, also saw the first appearance of the Morane 'Parasol'
monoplane. The Morane monoplane had been for some time an
interesting machine as being the only type which had no fixed
surface in rear to give automatic stability, the movable
elevator being balanced through being hinged about one-third of
the way back from the front edge. This made the machine
difficult to fly except in the hands of experts, but it was very
quick and handy on the controls and therefore useful for racing
purposes. In the 'Parasol' the modification was introduced of
raising the wing above the body, the pilot looking out beneath
it, in order to give as good a view as possible.

Before passing to the year 1914 mention should be made of the
feat performed by Nesteroff, a Russian, and Pegoud, a French
pilot, who were the first to demonstrate the possibilities of
flying upside-down and looping the loop. Though perhaps not
coming strictly within the purview of a chapter on design
(though certain alterations were made to the top wing-bracing of
the machine for this purpose) this performance was of extreme
importance to the development of aviation by showing the
possibility of recovering, given reasonable height, from any
position in the air; which led designers to consider the extra