Omaha daily bee., 1912-05-05
SAFETY FACTOR IN FLIGHTS
Skillful Management is the Most
Necessary of ALI.
LIMIT TO DEGREE OF SPEED
Many Aviators Fly without the Use
of Speed Indicator-Depend
Too Much ON the Sense
of Hearing.

of Hearing.
NEW YORK. May L-According to an
article by Captain W. Irving Chambers.
U. S. N. in charge of the development of
aviation In the navy. the principal fac
tors upon which safety in aeroplsne flight
depends many be found in these broad
groups-reIiable and effective motive
power. good architecture and careful
workmanship. and good airmanship and
skiiful management. II. says tina tn.
first two factors may be regarded 80 suf-
ficientiy advanced to insure safety now.
although they require further advance
mtnt to assure the desired degree Of sue
cess. But, as with automobiles. there is a
limit to the degree Of speed that can be
controlled so as to insure the desired
degree OF safety. The discovery Of this
limit and the keeping Of 1t within the
bt unds Of safety depends absolutely upon
the skin Of the airman. Regarding thu
third factor. Captain Chambers says:
ut is possible for a pilot to climtnsts
the principal elements of uncertainty In
thc behavior Of his machine and to avoid
overtaxing his physical powers by hai'-
hazard methods. For such man stalled
motors and holes in the air will have NJ
terrors. He will carefully avoid over
straining any part. and win have conf
dence in his ability to conduct the ma
chine in safety at all times when flight
is possible The kind Of confidence re-
quired. however, Is that based on posi-
tive information gained through expert
ence which, {, Il seems TO me. can be I'M
parted in the quickest and most salts
factory manner by more general use o.
such suitable instruments and mechanics
aids as will dispel all uncertainty con
corning the speed and the progress. Many
aviators are flying without the use Of
speed indicators, or any other efficient
scientific instrument, to warn them when
they are in danger, and It is probable
that many skiIful airmen who now de-
pend entirely upon the sense OF hearing
ana touch to warn them Of danger, would
be able to fly In safety in weather that
they are now too prudent to fly In. u
II were common practice to use practical
and dependable navigating Instruments Il
guide them.
Aviators Prejudiced.
ri can readily understand the prejudice
that exists among experienced airmen Il
the use Of automatic stabilisers. especial,
| II such devices required adding con
siderable weight to the machine. They
realize that mechanism is apt TO get ou'
OF order or TO fail at a critical moment
and that at such times the real bird In
stinct is necessary TO secure safety. Glenr
II, Curtiss IL quoted as conceding that 9
semi-automatic controlling device would
no doubt be Of practical value. espe'
cially TO beginners, and this indicates
fear in his mind that licensed pilots
might get to relying upon mechanical
control exclusively. I agree with Mr.
Curtis. but / wish to urge that II Is
mistake to suppose that any indifferent
aviator could navigate the air by meant
Of an automatic stabilizer. An authorized
pilot should be required to obtain
license without the use Of such devices
and. once proficient in his steps, there
are many more things for him to iearr
before he can be classed as an aeria
navigator, but to ignore the ad'
yantages Of an efficient assisted OF
automatic control. which can Be
cut out or used ed ibitum. I'M
presses me much the same is ignorini
the advantages OF mechanical steering
and other aids TO practical seamanship
for by its use important military flights
might be accomplished in time OF wal
under circumstances that would other
wise render the flights impossible. ops
can readily imagine also that wounded
pilot might be totally incapacitated with
out such assistance"
Captain Chambers further declares tna'
the leaders in aviation in France arr
seeking to improve safety in flights BY
an extensive use Of scientific instrument
to guide and assist them. and that the re
ports made by two of the exjerimenters
show that the use of such instruments
makes for precision in aerial navigation
avoids the folly Of haphazard flight. and
tends to educate the airrnan in the In
stincts of bird.