Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-10-27
SAILING THE AIR.
How It Feels to Soar AIoft In a
Balloon or Aerop|ane.
ALL SENSE OF HEIGHT LOST.

ALL SENSE OF HEIGHT LOST.
Consequently There 10 No Feeling Of
Dizziness or Giddinsss, and After
Rising q Few Hundred Feet There 10
No Sensation Of Speed.
Comparatively few persons can
look down from great height without
creepy sensation running through
the nerves and chasing down the spine.
and one would naturally think these
unpleasant symptoms would be in
tensified ii one were to rise several
hundreds Of feet in the mir IN flying
machine. But that idea ia u mistake.
according to Mr.. Charles e. Turner
in an article in the Pail Mall Maya
zine. In which he tells how beginners
are taught the use OF the aeroplane
and describes the sensations of flight.
he says:
THE manner In which a course of
flight lessons begins depends chiefly
on the weather: II 1t is fine and calm
a pupil is at once taken out for pas
senger flights. sitting behind the
teacher or beside him. according to
the type of machine. and having moth
ing to think about except the novelty
of his experiences and the new aspect
in which be sees familiar things.
His first fight is great event in
the career Of the pupil. and when it
is over he Is anxious for the next.
His estimate Of the difficulties that lie
before him is more modest. and he is
ready to besiege his instructor with
questions. he climbed into the pas
senger's seat and gripped the stanch.
ions with both hands. he need not
have gripped them quite so hard. for
he soon found that the motion of the
machine was not in the least disturb
ing.
ITO start it a mechanic stood behind
the main planes and gave the propel-
Ter a turn. and suddenly the engine
was giving out tremendous roar and
making the machine vibrate. Other
mechanics were holding on to the tail
booms to prevent the aeroplane from
shooting forward before the pilot was
ready.
But almost Immediately the pas
senger observed the pilot hold up one
hand as a signal. and on the instant
the machine plunged forward over the
ground like swift motorcar. Before
he had time to observe and note his
feelings the sensations had changed.
The machine was travelling forward
with perfect smoothness. the noise Of
the engine had curiously softened
down, the ground no longer raced be-
meath the ma chine. and be realized
that he was flying and that already
be was twenty. forty. fifty feet above
the ground.
"Flying has been compared to many
things. but in truth no comparison is
good. Perhaps may correct one or
two common but false notions con.
corning 1t.
There Is no sense Of travelling at
great height. There Is not the slight
est danger Of giddiness. To me this
gave no surprise. for. as every bal
loonist knows. it matters not whether
be looks down from 20 or 1000 feet
the sensation of height is absent.
ITO take my own case. l cannot look
down a 100 foot cliff for many Sec
onds before feeling unsafe. but ] can
look down from balloon that IS two
miles above ground and can gaze at
the scene below for half an hour with
out a qualm. 1t is the experience OF
every aeronaut.
1T is impossible also With reason.
able accuracy without the aid Of an
aneroid to estimate ones height. Ton
zee trees far below you. and II you are
high enough they appear to be mere
bushes, but you cannot tell whether
you are 400 feet IN or 100
Again. the sense of speed is almost
entirely lost when you have attained q
height Of 300 or 400 feet. The ground
passes below you very slowly. while If
you get up to $40 or 1000 feet it is
>nly by steadily watching the ground
hat you perceive that you are moving
Yet all the while there is that steady |
gale Of wind upon the face that in
'orms you Of your speed.
I'm descending a pupil notices that
he speed Of the ground rapidly accei-
crates. The chances are that he can.
lot distinguish the moment when the
anding wheels again come into contact J
With the earth. The machine moves |
Onward over the ground until its mo-
nentum is exhausted. and be and the |