Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13


another fifty points. A perfect mark
on this phase of the test will require
accuracy down to companies, troops or
batteries.
The time required will count another
fifty points. The team making the
best time will be given a perfect mark
and from the scores of the others one
point will be deducted for each two
minutes or fraction thereof by which
they are slower than the winner.
The other fifty points will be for the
general appearance of the report. The
best will be given a perfect mark.
There will be board Of judges, con-
sisting of three representatives of the
army and two of the Aero Club of
America.
In 1912. the first year. the ''Mackay
army aviation cup" as it is officially
knoWn a vas sa.s won ,. by Lieut. I,9 Henry H.
That contest was to test the skill of
the operator in handling his machine.
and the competitor also had to report
on the nature of the country covered.
Last year the test was reconnaissance
work on a small scale. and it was by
teams. Only a small body Of troops
was used. The winners were Lieut.. ].
E. Carberry. 9Th Infantry. as pilot, and
Lieut. Fred Seydel, Coast Artillery
Corps. as observer. The names Of the
1912 and 1913 winners of the contest
appear on two of the ten spaces pro-
vided for that purpose on the cup.
The United States Signal Corps is
closely watching the work Of aviators
of Europe in the present war. Although
it has no observer of its own in the
war field, it is getting all the reports
available from various sources and
carefully noting the results. On the
data thus collected will be based rec
concentrations which may be made to
Congress in regard to army aviation
f,,f, - AH,a
army aviators may be largely deter
mined thereby.
In training his scouts of the air I'm
Gle Sam Is using great care in selecting
his men. Before a man can be detailed
from any other branch of the service
to go to San Diego as an aviation
student" he must pass a rigid examina-
ton as to his fitness. Once admitted to
the school, he must make satisfactory
progress in both the practical and the
theoretical end of the science of avia-
ton or he will be sent back to his pre-
vious place in the army.
Most of the practical work is done
in the mornings. while the afternoons
are devoted to study. The studies in
clude the principles of aerodynamics,
construction and repair, aeronautical
intercollegiate science of weather
as it affects aviation-aerial photoe-
raphy, topography. map reading and
reconnaissance and wireless telegraphy.
In six months or less a man is sup
posed to cover this theoretical work
sufficiently to enable him to pass his
examination for promotion to Junior
military aviator"
In the way of actual flying the STU
dent before qualifying for advance in
rank must make straight-away
cross-country flight of 100 miles and
return. Two days are allowed, and
there may be landing only at the
end of the 100 miles. He must make
u flight of $50 miles and bring in a
description of the country, submitting
a map and a written report. Another
examination paper" calls for thirty
minute flight at an altitude between
$500 and 5000 feet.
On account of the fact that the
weather at San Diego allows flying al
most every day in the year and is a
safe place for beginners to learn both
land and water flying. the army avia-
ton school Is likely to remain there.
The headquarters Of the LIST Aero
Squadron. however, when it's orsani-
cation is fully complete, will be at San
Antonio, Tex.
AS matter of fact. it is only the
need of buildings, contracted for but
not yet erected, that prevents this LIST
Aero Squadron from establishing it.
self at San Antonio. One aero squad
ron will consist of twenty officers and
ninety-six men, with an equipment of
eight machines and sixteen motor We
hicleS. There are at present about