The sun., 1912-07-21
WATER FLYING FAST GAINING FAVOR AS A SPORT

Less than a month after the success
at San Diego Bay Mr.. Curtiss had the
opportunity further to demonstrate the
possibilities Of tho hydroacroplane. The
battleship Pennsylvania. on which Ely
had made a sensational landing. was
anchored in the San Diego harbor. The
commanding officers. Rear Admiral
Thomas and Capt. Pond, consent ,d TO
assist MIR. Curtiss in u new experiment
IL was to fly over the ship. alight along
side and he hosted aboard and fly back
to the island. Tho feat was successfully
achieved
Mr.. Curtiss further added TO tho prac-
ticability of his machine by affixine
wheels in addition to hydro surfaces.
in order that it might start from the
land and aight on water or reverse the
operation. Thus its function became
thre"fold. II could ride the air, land or
water az the will of the driver. Another
feature which il now in general Use of
the hydroGnroplane is q self starter for
tho engine that can I've handled by the
pilot.
The Success Of this now air craft was
soon apparent and constructors both in
Europe and America set about to develop
one. AZ n result. during the last several
months contests were held at Monaco.
number Of other meets have been
planned for the summer Many OF the
hest known aviators are taking up water
flying and once they have gone in for IL
are always reluctant to indulge in over
land flying aRnin. Sopwith Psulhan and
Grahatre White are among those who
h.. Il al L l.
water f!ier.
The main thing that will limit the uss
OF the hydro-aeror!ane is its expense. Tho
average man cannot afford to pay from
s50n upward for Il toy. In the best
schools the tuition fee il $500 for an nero-
plane course. 5000 for n hydro-aeroplane
course and &7O0for a course in both kinds
OF flying. the fees beins payable upon en-
roll'nent. In case machine il purchased
the amount is refunded. One school
offers refund of SIS to pupils completing
the course without breakagc.
Learning to drive an aeroplane Ia
principally matter of personality. From
SIX 70 eight weeks is the average time
taken. although one pupil graduated in
five days and another in one week.
The routine of instructions in one OF
the established schools is as follows:
% a thorough knowledge Of the aero
plane and motor
f2) Runs on the ground to teach the
use Of the steering rudder.
go Balance through instinct by run
ming the aeroplane with Just sufficient
power TO keep two Of the three wheels OF
the ground.
a. The art of landing by many short.
straightaway flights.
CD Right and left hand turns.
! go Gliding without power
CD The figure eight
S) The pilots license.
There are still! dreamers. One man up
in Canada wrote to know If he could
rake in salmon from an aeroplane. II 40
he would buy one. Another is planning
en- aerial yacht. So nue., for the op:imist.
In discussing the new sport Henry
Woodhouse OF the Bulletin Of the Aero
Club of America said:
1.-Two years ago we looked upon Fabre's
experiments askance. His experiments
were very elementary and while he proved
that one could leave tho water on an
aeroplane, they were only jumps OF lit:ls
practical value.
when Curtiss gave his demonstra-
tions at San Diego, early in 1911 it became
evident that the new thing would revolu-
tionize aviation. which it did. Now the
hydro-aeop!ane is more popular than the
land machine The aviators are all keen
for il. and some do not want to pilot the
land machine after trying the water
plane
Both in America and in Europe thu
makers Of standard aeroplancs supply
bydros or floats with their machines foc
water flying. That is true OF the Curtis'.
Wright. Burgess. in America: the Far
man, \osin and Cauo,ron concerns in