In August 1922 the Daily Mail newspaper offered a £1,000 prize for the longest duration flight by an unpowered, heavier-than-air aircraft.

The competition was to be organized by the Royal Aero Club, who chose the site (Itford Hill, on the Sussex South Downs near Lewes) and the date (16–21 October).

This gave competitors six weeks to design, build and transport their entries;[1] 13 arrived in time and one of these was the Handasyde glider, competition number 2, to be flown by F. P.

It was an all-wood aircraft with a thick, high, cantilever wing with a slight straight taper and square tips.

There was little flying on Thursday because of the winds, and the Handasyde team took the opportunity to fit a rudder extension and increase the aileron deflection.

However, on the afternoon of the last day, Saturday 21 October, the French pilot Maneyrol stayed up for 201 min in his tandem-winged Peyret glider.