After his failed American adventure, Fokker is back in the Netherlands and is working on a biography about himself. Meanwhile, Plesman threatens to lose the lucrative mail transport to a competitor, and is forced to use the outdated Fokker 'Pelikaan' for a dangerous flight to the Dutch East Indies.

Plesman registers his first American aircraft, DC-2 'de Uiver' for an air race to Australia. With this he wants to prove that these metal devices are better than the Fokker aircraft. The whole of the Netherlands sympathizes with the exciting journey. When Plesman discovers that Fokker has negotiated the sales rights for the DC-2, the race becomes even more exciting.

When three KLM aircraft crash in a week, Plesman and Fokker blame each other. They argue through the press, and Fokker tries to convince Plesman through public opinion to order new civilian planes from him again. The relationship between the men reaches a low point and Plesman is dealt with a heavy blow to his private life.