The Washington times., 1912-04-03
AWATORS TOSTART
OFFICIAL SEASON
FRIDAY AFTERNOON
United States Army Fliers
Arrive From Southern
Practice Grounds.

. What Is expected to be the best
spring and summer season in aviation
lkith the fier3 in the United States
army, will begin at College Park Md,
possibly Friday afternoon, though the
official time set for the start is Mon
day. Dr..
After a successful winter in Augusta
Ca, the aviators returned yesterday
AFTERNOON on special train. A stop
over at the Union Station of half an
hour was made in order-to permit the
officers to have their baggage unloaded.
Upon arriving at College Park at Q
o'clock work of unloading the train was
started, and all day today the thirty
enlisted men were busy unpacking and
IreasSembling the five biplanes in the
cargo.
By tomorrow afternoon or Friday
morning the machines will be assem-
bled, and IL conditions are good for
nying Friday afternoon Capt Paul
Beck and Lieut.. Roy c. Kirkland, Lieut..
Thomas Dewitt Milling and Capt.
Charles DeForest Chandler will make a
few short spins over the field
The actual campaign, however, does
not start until Monday afternoon. With
the veteran flyers are Lieut. Leighton
-
Graham, new aviators. These men
nave made number of trips with the
old myers at Augusta, and on Monday
VIII beg1n active practice in learning to
ny themselves. Lieut.. Harry Geiger,
Eecehtly ordered to report to the school
Is expected to reach College Park the
early part of next week, and will begin.
his lessons along with Lieutenants Ha-
Slehurst and Graham.
Plan Long Flights.
In ordering the men to return to
Washington April l It was Brigadier
General Aliens intention to have the
fiiers at College Park as early as con-
dttions would permit them to fly, so
that great amount of work could
be done this spring and summer. II
VIII be strenuous campaign for the
men, They will make long cross coun-
try flights, experiment in bomb drop
ping, picture taking from attitudes of
300 to $500 feet, flashing wireless and
visional messages while flying. and
practice scout duty, and advance mill
ltary aviation as much as possible. The
main point that is to be considered is
to discover this summer to how many
practical uses the biplane or mono
plane can be placed in case of a strug-
gle with another nation.
The hVe biplaneS now in the service
will be given a thorough inspection
ItOtlOtAOW dllSTIlOOn III OrueT Jnat no
risk will be run by the aviators when
they make their first spring flights on
Friday.
To Go Over City.
OF actual flying the feature this sea-
son will be long cross-country flights
Encouraged by the success met with
last year in flying to various villages
and towns near College Park and over
the city, the men will before the middle
of the summer make flights as far
down the Potomac river as Fort Hunt
and Fort Washington, and as far
northeast as Baltimore, east as far as
Annapolis. and northwest as far as
fredericksburg, Md. Fort Myer will be
visited on trips similar to the one made
by the men last September. In going
over Washington attitudes of not less
than 1900 feet will be attained, a re-
quest to this effect being made by the
Washington Aero Club 1t is pointed
out that a flight over Washington un-
der 1900 feet is dangerous, in the fact
that in case a landing is necessary it
would be almost impossible to volplane
long enough to pick out a place. But
in flying $500 feet or higher, it is pos
sible for man to get view of the
places where landings are possible. and
in case of an accident to his engine,
Ivolplane about until a safe spote is Sc
Ilected, and then sail glide to 1t.