Posted by Laurence Monkhouse on January 12, 2008 at 12:43:41 from 82.27.22.223 user Laurence_.
In Reply to: Re: Biggles on BBC7 posted by Peter Ceresole on January 12, 2008 at 11:29:51:
the wing as it collapses is described as fabric
Biggles 'Jupiter' is fabric covered as well - when Ginger destroys the villains' Weinkel he nearly falls out of their own aeroplane: "Dropping on his knees, he clawed frantically at the smooth fabric; his questing fingers found a rib under the canvas..."
By the time this book was written the all metal Empire Flying Boats had established scheduled routes to Africa and Asia, but small companies scratching for business in the north of Canada probably could not afford new technology - in fact Wilks makes it clear in the letter that opens the book that he is operating on the very margins of viability - and that before the villains turn up.