Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-10
QUALIFIED AIR
PILOTS SCARCE
AMATEUR AERONAUTS RESENT
PATTERS0N'S WORDS
BUSINESS MANAGER OF CLUB
CALLS PLAN IMPRACTICAL
W.. H. Leonard Says There Are Not
More Than Two Score Men in
the Country Able to
Navigate

Members of the Aero club Of Califor-
MIA are aroused over the statements
made by William patterson, a profes-
sional aeronaut of Sawtelle, regarding
the controversy with Captain Mueller,
in which Mr.. Patterson advocates ex-
Guiding from aero clubs all but profes
sional and skilled aerouauts. They
hold that this would make simply
business game" of aviation, and would
Ietard seriously the scientific advance
ment fostcred by men interested in
&crOnautical progress through aero
clubs.
W. II. Leonard, who as business
manager of the Aero club of California
conducted the business arrangements
with Captain Mueller, said yesterday:
Qualified Pilots Few
In your aeronautical columns Mon
day you gave space to quotations from
q letter by William Patterson of Saw
telle, Wherein he seeks information CON
Cerning the Aero club of California
from Capt A. f. Mueller Mr., Patter-
son suggests that aero clubs should be
composed only of gentlemen whose
past experiences with balloons have
this rule were adhered to there would
be no aero clubs, for there are not two
score of persons in the whole United
States who are qualified pilots of a bal
loon.
The parachute jumper must not be
ConfOunded with a pilot of gas bag
tor he knows no more about operating
one than a lay student of aerOnautics,
and nothing at all about the theories
and principles involved. He may have
the advantage of poise in the air, and
a certain hazy knowledge of air cur
rents which might aid him in guessing
how to pilot a gas bag; yet he knows
nothing of aneroids, facts of expansion
and contraction of gas, and other nee
essary features. l repeat. there would
be no aero clubs if they were to be
composed of such persons.
Membership of Aero Club
"The Aero club of California is COM
posed mainly of persons who are max
ing a study of aeronautics. Though
none Of the members have had actual
experience aloft. they have been study
ing principles and theories for years,
and have profited by the experiences
of others as given in scientific works
and articles. They are widely read,
have studied closely the mechanical
and mathematical features Of the sci
ments with models and apparatus, are
building aeroplanes and other types Of
airships, and if they accomplish any
thing il will be along scientific lines.
other members are but beginners and
are greatly interested A few mem
bers are willing to be interested and
have Joined the club for that purpose.
Who is there mSe qualified to conduct
aeronautical organizations than these
persons who have their hearts in their
work?
"Mr. Patterson suggests also that
members of the Aero club may be
members because actuated by merce-
rary motives. There are no professial-
al balloonsts or professional promoters
in the club. All have business of their
own outside aeronautical experiments.
The mercenary person connected with
aeronautics is the professional balloon
ist. If it is his profession. he certainly
gains his livelihood thereby.
Lost Money on Aero Show
members of the Aero club of Cali
fornia lost more than $500 on the aero
show given last May and on the opera
tion of the balloon American as a cap
tive. For weeks before the show and
during its operations many members
worked hard and faithfully without
payment of any kind. There has been
no complaint from the ultlllDcio oNCi
the serious losses.
"On the other hand. take the case of
Capt Mueller, a professional aeronaut.
one Of the 'aeronautical gentlemen
referred to by Mr.. Patterson. Accord
ing to testimony of owners and man
ayers of the balloon American, captain
Mueller was instruct not to go over
the mountains in his flight from Pasa-
dena. which he agreed to. If such was
the case. he disobeyed orders and
dumped the balloon in an almost mac
cessible place on Strawberry peak. He
asked for and vas paid $50 to bring it
down. He asked for and was paid $50
for repairing it. For two weeks he was
paid $50 a week for operating it as
captive. At Chutes park he was IN
structed not TO take the balloon up in
a high wind. One day he went in the
air with a passenger and the wind blew
so hard that it ripped open the bag
and let S64 worth of gas escane,s be-
sides killing the business right there,
Mueller Paid Literally
"After receiving $3.50, Captain Muel-
Ter consulted a lawyer and threatened
suit for the collection of more than
500 which he claimed was still due
him, including a claim for his private
use of money which the Pasadena
board of trade had collected for the
rescue of the balloon and which was
applied for that purpose. and which
may be considered as having been Civ
en- Captain Mueller in the money paid
him. although Captain Mueller always
insisted that it was a matter of honor
for him in his standing as balloonist
to rescue the balloon.
"Dick Ferris and J. r. Lehigh say
that Mueller was paid for every bit of
work he did at Chutes park in handling
the balloons for the free flights, al
though the captain was strong in his
assertions that he was engaged in sci
entific experiments"
Patti Rosa's Divorced Husband Dies
HONOLULU. Aug 9.-Robert Scott,
H. 5i,,oroo5 bIySbaO6 patti Rosa.