In 1933, 30 years into the age of flight, World Records were set and broken regularly. Vast amounts of money were spent to win Glory and National Prestige, but people questioned such expenditure for glory that was so often fleeting. Up stepped Bertram 'Barrelroll' Barrett III, with a proposed record that would be unlikely to ever be beaten ( by any sane man ). Barrett would fly continuous barrel rolls from Hendon, outside London, to Grover's Mill, America. Barrett was offered a Supermarine Southampton Flying Boat for the attempt by the Royal Navy. The Army offered a detachment of conscientious objectors for ground crew, Barrett also received the assurance of the RAF that they would shoot him out of the sky if he went anywhere near one of their airfields. Finally Barrett got permission to start from 'The Duck Pond' outside Snotting -on the - Wold. The Southampton's designer R. J. Mitchell was to be Barrett's co-pilot but at the last minute his Wife got a splinter in her thumb and he had to pull out. Mitchell was replaced by Arnold 'Airsick' Arbothnott an Infantry Captain in the Household Cavalry, and occasional Avon representative. In the 3 days prior to the record attempt, 1123 ducks were shot on the pond, for fear they may be startled by the plane and fly up into it's engines injuring themselves.( 28 cows, 3 horses, 9 dogs, 4 sheep, the local witch and 3 Albanian tourists were also listed as collateral damage). On April 1st 1933 at 08:00am the intrepid flyers took to the sky, they returned 5 minutes later and declared April Fool, fortunately much to the amusement of 1500 heavily armed locals who turned up in the pouring rain to see them off. The record attempt actually got underway the following morning, as the plane gracefully spiralled into the air the huge crowd of onlookers retired to the village green for a barbeque that still holds the record for the biggest 'Duck Roast' in British history. Barrett and Arbothnott, simply vanished, despite Herculean efforts by locals who searched every bar and tavern in the village, under tables and behind sofas, for hours, the would-be record breakers where never seen again.. Snotting-on the-Wold Herald, April 2nd 1983, 50th Anniversary Edition. So, there you have it, the few facts as they are known. Prior to our return to The Plant, we removed Barrett's remains from the plane and sat him under a tree, facing inland towards the approaching T-Rex..well he did pong something wicked, there was no trace of Arbothnott. The picture above is the only known pictorial record of the event, rendered from a barrage balloon during one of Barrett's orientation flights. It usually hangs in the National Picture Gallery, which reminds me, I'd better try sneeking it back in tomorrow. This Historic aircraft now resides in the restoration hangar at The Plant, though I doubt we'll get it looking this good, there just aren't the craftsmen any more.. still, we'll give it a bash. I phoned Guinness this morning, apparently they don't do beer mats anymore, but Barrett's 9.6 mile barrel role flight is still an official record. Actually, just between you and me, it's been well smashed..by Tailspin, though it wasn't intentional and he'd rather it never came to light..well, maybe one day!