 In November 1933, having observed interest within the British Air Ministry as a result of the success of the Everest flight, aeronautical engineer Frank Barnwell proposed a purpose-built high-altitude research aircraft.This proposal, designated the "Type 138", was a large single-engine, single-seat monoplane, equipped with a retractable undercarriage and a supercharged Pegasus engine.Nothing came of this until Italian pilot Renato Donati achieved a new world record during April 1934; after this, public opinion swung in favour of a new, government-sponsored record attempt.