The commonwealth., 1911-03-17
THE AIR VEHICLE
IN FUTURE WAR.
Confidence and Common Sense Are
Required to Operate War alrshlp.

Tn9Ee IS pfOoaute no suDIerVs NO hte
no science which today so lnterest the
whole world as Aviation. And now you
will probably ask me whys 1t IL be-
cause this frail looking craft is just an
object OF passing curiosity something
like the two-headed calf at tho circus
or the subject OF dirisive criticism as
to it's commercial and military possible
litiesY Is it only mere toy left 10 the
stocking OF human invention by the
Santa Claus OF Science, and will 1t soon
be discardsd as worthless playthingP
There are, nndonbtly, many who take
this view Of the aeroplane. But fail
to apnraise as correct the foundations
they lay for sneh premise. OF one
thing i am just a bit more than firmly
convinced. The aeroplane has come to
stay. 1t will be used In commerce and
in war. Just as was the case with the
automobile, the hsavier-than-air ma
chine will be developed by those the
world call reckless and yentnresome
and the wealthy man. But this will be
true oniy for short time, uutil, again
to use the automobile as an anology,
usefulness Of aeroplane had been driven
homeinto firm hold on tho public
mind and Imagination.
Before go bit further let me make
prophesy. Where today there is one
aeroplane there will be 100 In one year.
Where there are 100 in year there
will be 1000 in two years, and the end
OF tho third year from now will surely
see no fewer than 10000 aeroplanes in
active use. Five years from now It,
will have become common thing to-
see hundreds OF Heavier-than-air flying
machines over our big cities, and feel
certain within the span Of time we
shall not only have tried to cross the
Atlantic In an aeroplane but shall act
ually have spanned the time-defying
waste OF water.
At the present moment the one obess-
ing thought in the public mind relative
to ancaeroplane seems to belts apparent
inherent instability and the dangers
that attend Its operation. Anybody,
or rather, everybody possessed Of con-
tidence in himself or Of common sense,
can Learn to fly with safety to himself
and great benefit to the world at large.
For IL the aeroplane will do nothing
else IL is bound to make wars so hor-
rible that they will not lightly be en-
tered upon and snail and compara-
lively poor nation will be rendered the
equal Of more powerful neighbors
through the acquisition Of an armada
Of aeroplanes. What the Colts revolver
did to make all the individuals equal,
the aeroplane will do to put all nations
on aphysical par.
To be successful as an airman 1T re-
quires only that the novitste shall as !
have said be possessed Of confidence In
himself and common sense. The pro-
portion is nine-tenths confidence, one
tenth common sense. 1t Is a very
simple matter to run an aeroplane,
inst as easy as driving an automobile.
Therefore may get rid Of the common
sense part Of 1t right at the start. IL
is essy enough TO operate motor car.
1t is easier in view OF the lack of OBJ.
structions, roadways, passing objects,
etc, to run an aeroplane.
Now it Is essentially true that 10
nearly every productive calling the
main requisite Ia self-conddence. Be-
lief is nine.tenths Of the foundation
for success. IL Is absolutely essential
| in aviation and for this reason the
man who operates an aeroplane must
do things accurately. He cannot do
them that way unless he believes
thoroughly in himself.
|. Awoman who many said had more
| nerve than sense wanted TO take q ride
with the flying man. The machine
was not built for carrying passenger.
The woman signed release that In tho
event she fell oat OF the machine, or
the machine was wrecked and her neck
broken thereby, her husband would
not die suit for damages.
Al the shadows Of the night fell this
woman took her place on q reed not one
and q half inches thick on the side
Of the drivers seat. The machine be.
gan to b-r-r-r and before the woman
could scream she was up in the air
with the aviator.
The machine circled the race track
like bird. The trip Was over In five
minutes, and everybody who had de-
nounced the woman as fool, apIaulded
her, said sho was brave, and that by
her bravery she had contributed much
TO the cause Of high flying.
Tbs flying machine will be the letter
carrier 10 four Or Ave years. The man
ir The flying machine can drop bomb
on the deck Of q warship.
II you saw machine flying you would |
realize yourself how easily this can be
done.
There will be big meet In Green
wood on April i4th and 18th. 1t ought
to bring thousands Of people to this
city for they will see In the good year
Of 1911 machine that has solved
problem to men since other men have