Lord Tweedsmuir, son of John Buchan, was a fighter pilot, and it would seem a bit of a playboy as well! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2264523/Lord-Tweedsmuir.html John Buchan's 1916 novel Greenmantle, and the 1918 Mr Standfast were one of the first to have a major aviation aspect in the plot; so its not surprising that he encouraged his son to take to the air. The 39 Steps was published in 1914; the later films of the book involved aeroplanes but I can't remember if the novel did.
