‘I’ve brought a thermos of coffee,’ Will tells me, correctly picking up on my facial expression. ‘Just let me know when you need some.’

‘Thanks.’ Although there’s no wind to speak of, the cold air seems to find its way under my coat within moments of me getting out of the car, and I shiver. So much for ‘warm but sexy’; I’m already wishing I’d gone for full-on thermals.

‘There’s Dad and Bernard,’ Will observes as we make our way towards the group at the other end of the field. ‘Let’s go and say hello.’

I’ve kind of got used to the size of Jonathan’s helicopter during Will’s and my visits to the workshop, but seeing it among the other remote-controlled aircraft here really brings home how massive it is again. It must be at least three times the size of the next largest, and most of the others look tiny in comparison. Jonathan and another man that I assume is Bernard are fussing over it, watched by a woman with a slightly bemused expression on her face.

‘I guess that’s Australian Audrey,’ I murmur to Will as we get closer.

‘Yup.’

None of them have noticed our approach, so I take the opportunity to study her. She’s pretty much as Will described. Unlike me, she seems to be dressed for the weather, in fleece-lined boots and a thick coat that reaches almost to the ground. Her dark hair is just visible below the Russian-style fur hat that I’m instantly envious of.

‘How’s it going?’ Will asks Jonathan once the initial greetings are over and we’ve all been introduced to each other.

‘Good, I think. We’re just waiting for the 3D flyers to finish and then we’ll see about starting her up,’ Jonathan tells him, indicating a man a short distance away.

‘Is that helicopter supposed to be doing that?’ I ask. I may not know anything about these things, but the machine currently in the sky is jerking around as if there’s something seriously wrong with it.

‘Yes,’ Bernard says in a disapproving tone. ‘Totally unrealistic and they fly like absolute idiots. I don’t get the attraction of it at all.’

‘I think I’d understand it more if they were flying some sort of recognisable pattern,’ Audrey remarks. ‘I mean, it’s definitely testing the limits of what the aircraft can do, but I’m not confident the pilots are in full control.’

‘Just you wait until Jonathan gets this baby in the air,’ Bernard tells her. ‘You’ll see some proper flying then. None of this stunt nonsense.’

‘Have you ever flown a helicopter, Audrey?’ Jonathan asks, lifting his head from whatever he’s doing.

‘No. I’ve been in them, obviously, but I’m not a fan of flying in something that seems permanently determined to kill you. I’ll stick to fixed wing, thank you very much.’