Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-06-21
Nature ncrcr did Jetrdy the heart that lorcd
L her.-WordswOrth
MILITARY AVIATION IN HAWAII

For more than a year past the STAR Bulletin
has been urging that the army turn its attention
to the matter of an aviation corps for Hawaii
and finally Hawaii is to have the FLYERS
Announcement of the plans given in Asso
ciated Press dispatches yesterday, confirming
the information exclusively published by this pa
per several days earlier, indicates that in short
time Hawaii will have perhaps the largest mill
tary aviation station in the country. Expert
birdmen, mechanicians and equipment are being
sent here i'm accordance with plans carefully
worked out some time ago. Oahu should soon
become the scene of aeroplane experiments as
notable as those carried on at the military hang
ars of Europe, where history is being made with
rapidity far exceeding that in the United
States
Much has been said and some written concern
ing the danger of flying on Oahu, and it is prob
able that there is considerable truth in the stor
les of unusual air-currents, but that is reason
for not carrying on extensive work here in mill
fary aviation. The feats of the birdmen in Eu
rope recently have proved conclusiyely the value
Of the aeroplane in time of war, and flying is NJ
longer fad An aviation corps here will, at {
day not far distant, be as necessary as drydocl
or coaling station or a line of mortar batteries
along the coast
AS matter of fact, the European filters hay,
made aviation almost as safe as the average foot
ball game. Only in America does the loss of lift
in air-accidents continue at an appallin:
rate. and the reason for this is that only il
America are half-trained men and youths al
lowed to take up an aeroplane; only in Americi
,SloI 10 ho loff in
hands of irresponsible youths and notoriety-seek
ing showmen, instead of asa science, to be de
yeloped under the guidance OF engineers AM
mechanicians The army and navy are doin'
about the only serious aviation work in the Unit
ed States, and even this is yet in its infancy, t
which may be ascribed most of the tragic acci
dents of the last few months.
How far behind America is in safeguarding
aviation may be estimated from the ratio Q
deaths in the eight principal countries of tn
world, where nine-tenths Of the flying is done
In Austria, the number Of deaths to the numbe
Of aviators is one in twenty in Belgium it is on
IN Twenty-Five; in Russia it Is one in twelve; i
England it is one in eighteen; in Germany, it
one in twenty-eight; in Italy it is one in twenty
in France it is one in seventy-three, and in tn
United States it is one in seven
The progress of safety, generally speaking, j
striking, even with the high death-rate in tn
United States. In 1908 there was fatality TO
each thousand miles of flight, but in spite of tn
large number of unframed men who took up fly
ing with little preparation after 1908, the dealt
rate had dropped so that in 1912 there was bu
one fatality for each 100000 miles of flight. |
1908 one in each five of the airmen was kille.
In 1912 only one in fifty-oue was killed.
This remarkable progress is due to several fa'
tors, chief among which are two-developme4
in the mechanical operations and equipment {
the aeroplanes, and careful study of the physics
conditions to be confronted at each flight. The1
is no reason why the same careful study OF ply
ical conditions that has been made in Euror
should not be made in Hawaii, and though in til
course of the work here there may be some acc
dents. and serious ones too, ultimately the az
verse conditions should be conquered as the
have been in France, Germany, Austria, BELGIUM
-the countries that lead the world in an increa
ingly-important science