Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-30
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A TRIP WITH BRODlE.
A Thrilling Experiences For Novice
In Art of Flying.
How much do you weigh ?''

HOW mucn DO you WelBnE
The question put to me by Aviator o.
w. Brodie at the Illinois Aero Club
ground the other afternoon came as a
complete surprise. but realizing what lay
behind the request l was not slow to
answer.
AS we got into our seats some of the
crowd grabbed the tail framework, and
one of the mechanics gave the propeller
spin after squirting a little raw gaso-
line into the cylinders.
With crash and roar as o. bat
terry of gatling guns this wonderful mo-
tor got TO work. and the propeller as I
glanced back looked like a haze between
myself and the crowd behind, while the
wind that Ii brought with its whirling
fairly roared past our ears. A wave of
the hand and we started across the field
like thing alive.
At first there was gentle bouncing
underneath, but as we gained speed IT
stopped, the roar of the motor seemed
left behind, and then with the slightest
pull on the lever the elevator dipped a
bit, and looking down found to my sur
prise that we were off the ground.
II is almost impossible to pick the mo-
ment when one leaves terra frma, the
change is so gradual from rolling con-
tact on tired wheels to the cushioned
support of the air.
How does It feel TO fly?
You have often dreamed of flying and
felt that sensation of being entirely sep
arate from everything else floating
about with no resistance and no sense of
speed, steering at will?
We'll. II isn't like that
There IS no sensation of being separate
and floating free. but of a safe and sure
support beneath you. meeting opposing
gusts and wind eddies with cushioned
shocks much like those of an auto would
be If all the bumps were feather beds
and all the stones were springs. There
is no floating to flying, either, for the
power of the apparatus is apparent on
every hand, from the wind that roars
past your ears TO the easy vibrations of
the explosions But we are off and I
will describe this trip which is fresh
est in my mind.
With my ears wide open for motor
sounds and my eyes for what was going
on, the first rush of wind as we really
rose made me duck down behind the pi-
I lots head until could wink the tears
out of my eyes. while gathered my
sleeve ends into my hands to keep too
| much wind from getting in. and held on
Ito the struts that ran up on either side
to the upper planes.
BY the time we had covered a couple
of hundred feet / was sitting up again
to take notice while the ground slipped
past about 50 feet below at 45-mile
gait.
A glance about and looked at Bro.
dies right hand grasping the control
lever. wind gust struck on the left
and heeled the planes over bit, there
was an inch movement of the pilot 8
hand to the left, and the lower aileron
raised that end with movement plainly
felt. FlH
At the same time there was a hitch Of
the same lever forward and back again
and the elevator in front was silhouetted
for moment against the background
of sky as a wider band Of black. then
narrowed again In fact. this plane was
in motion most of the time. steering up
and down as the gusts came. for 1t was
puffy and stiff wind at that.
At the far end of the field there was
a combined movement of the foot lever
and a drop of the right aileron and We
began to turn.
The machine bacnked up against the
air. tipping inward, givin gone grand
sense of stability and strength. for as
we turned a stronger wind hit head on
and as the momentum was decreased
instantly the whole aeropane lifted
bodily for a number of feet. then settled
into it's stride again.
/ At the next turn we met the same eff
feet as we turned with decreasing speed
and travelled dead against the wind.
/ We were now pointing back toward the
| hangers, where a knot of folks We're col