‘3D flyers are the stunt people,’ Will explains. ‘There’s fierce rivalry between the scale model people who build realistic models and fly them as if they’re the full-sized thing, like Dad, and the stunt people. The scale model people think the stunt people are arseholes, and the stunt people think the scale people are fuddy-duddies. And that’s before you get into the rivalry between the helicopter people and the fixed-wing aircraft people. It’s a murky world where everyone seems to bear some sort of grudge.’

‘I think grudge is a bit harsh,’ Jonathan argues. ‘I’d prefer to call it a healthy rivalry.’

‘Grudge,’ Will says again, firmly. ‘Although the stunt guys would probably love having an A & E nurse there. They may be small, but the blades on their machines are still fairly heavy and going at quite a speed, so if they get it wrong and hit a person, it makes a hell of a mess. Apparently, people have lost whole limbs and even been decapitated.’

I turn to Jonathan. ‘Let me just make sure I understand this. We’ve got a muddy field with a load of men who think the others are all arseholes, some helicopters, and the likelihood of a horrific accident. And this is what you want me to bring my three-year-old nephew to see?’

‘Accidents are very rare,’ he says. ‘He’d be just as likely to witness a messy car crash on the way there.’

‘I think it’s probably not the kind of thing someone Isaac’s age would enjoy,’ Will tells him, coming to my rescue. ‘I tell you what. When you get your helicopter up and running, maybe Tilly can bring him along then. It’ll be more interesting if he knows one of the people flying.’

‘You’re coming though, aren’t you?’ Jonathan asks Will.

‘I was, but now I come to think about it, I don’t think you really need me, do you? Once you and Bernard get chatting, you won’t know whether I’m there or not.’

Jonathan smiles. ‘I suppose that’s fair. OK. You have a deal. I’ll let you off flying club for now, on the proviso that you all come when I’m ready to put Audrey through her paces.’

‘Audrey?’ I ask.

‘The helicopter,’ Will explains. ‘She’s called Audrey. I’ll let Dad explain.’

‘She’s called Audrey after an ex-girlfriend of mine from back in the day,’ Jonathan tells us. ‘The thing you have to understand about a helicopter, even a model one, is that it’s fundamentally unstable. You have to be ahead of it at all times, because it’s always trying to kill you. It just reminded me of her.’

‘Did she try to kill you then?’ I ask, enthralled.