New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-20
SAFER THAN AERoPLANES.

.1s the bvdro-aeroplane as safe as the
simple acceptance
."NIucb safer. When you come down In
r. on land it's Ike landing in A feather
bed. and while you are flying over water
there is always less chance Of broken
neck than when flying over land.
Three young naval officers have been
trained by Curtiss and the Wrghts 20
captain tho water beetle squadron These
are Lieutenant Theodore G.. Ellyson, Viz
gn,an. Lieutenant John Rodgers. OF Wash
ineton. and Ensign John II. Towers a
Georgian. all II whom are now complet-
ing a course of instruction az the Curtiss
aviation school Hammondsport, y. Y
Lieutenant Ellyson IS the first aviator In
the world TO qualify FOR a pilots license
nv making flights over water, according
70 the standards established by the inter
rational Aeronautical Federation Cor quail
flying over land. He and his brother ny
dro-a eronauts will instruct the stuoent
aviators who will be detailed 10 the scnooi'
These will be young naval officers VINO
have seen sea service.
That this new flying academy viii be
popular branch Of the service Is attested
bv the fact that a hundred officers had ep-
piled for the course before the first nail
was driven into the aerodrorne. But those
who Will be admitted will have TO prove
I'D 10 certain standards Of eligibility, tn
GLIDING skill at swimming and other quail
fcations 10 be later decided. All OF the
Annapolis cadets are already wild 10 try
their wings. but no such business will be
allowed 10 take their minds of their books.
As soon as a student at the new school
qualities as a hydro-aviator the fact vii;
be entered upon his record IN the Navy
Department files. Having mastered the
handling. care and maintenance OF the by
dro-aeroplane. ne must finally qualify as a
pilot, according 20 the rules OF the inter
national federation. afore mentioned. IN
other words. IN the presence II a commit
tee OF the Aero Club OF America he must
cut figure eight five times around two
flags flown from buoys. l.5Oo feet apart.
and then land within 150 feet OF an estab-
lished mark. Hs must do all OF this twice
over making ten turns I'm all and two land
lngs. When Lieutenant Ellyson was quail
flying he made his first landing directly
alongside the mark-a white Tag buoyed by
a bottle-and his second landing within ten
feet OF H. This official Test also requires
the student aviator 10 ascend above Atty
metres about $50 feeD. and when Ellyson
was qualifying in this part OF the test he
made double the required altitude.
/ Under favorable weather conditions a
/ green student can finish his course at tho
new school and qualify as an aviator In
about month. Captain Chambers tells
me-
/ Life preservers are worn by the student
/ hydro-aeronauts. In the two nearest views.
showing Mr.. Curtiss and Lieutenant Ellysorl
/ I'm the Triad. you will note that first one
ana then the other has the control wheel.
/ These snapshots illustrate one OF the novel
/ features OF this hydro aeropane-the
shift control" The lever supporting the
/ wheel can be thrust over at any time. thus
| enabling the instructor 10 hand the control
over 10 his pupil ar any time, or the student
aviator 10 hand II back 10 the teacher.
/ should an emergency arise. This is a vas,
| Improvement upon the old Curtiss machine.
wherein instructor and pupil had 10 sir
/ tandem fashion-one in front OF the other
using the same control. The Wright ma
! chine at the new flying academy has no,
ye- been fitted with water gear. but an
| improved hydroplane will soon oe adapted
| 10 II.
! Copyright. 1911. by John Elfrsth wslkina,