Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-27
How Shall We Fly
BY Frederic u. Haskin

When the aeroplane which made the
record breaking flight from New York
to Washington recently was presented
to the New Mexico national guard for
use in border scouting, the pilots OFFER
ed to ny it overland and turn 1t over
to the guardsmen In person. After
some consideration the scheme had to
be given UP because Of the lack Of
landing stations along the way. The
aero enthusiasts hope to see the time
when an inland town will have to pro.
vide level plain suitable for landing
purposes, with shelter for machines,
just as it has to provide good auto
roads today, to keep itself on the tour
list map.
All this progress and all these plans
1t may be noted are based on the use
of the heavier than air machine. Ger
many Is in fact the only nation which
continues to pin any great portion OF
It's reliance in air work on the dirlgible
balloon, the motor driven machine
lighter than air, in her case the Zeppe-
lin. All the belligerents are using bal
looms for observation purposes. But
, even Germany has big and effective
aeroplane fleet on each Of her fronts,
particularly the western. What exper-
fence the war has brought seems to
Justify the course of those nations
, which stick to the aeroplane.
When the war began the relative eff
ficiency of the various types of craft
built to navigate the atmosphere was
pretty much matter of theory Some
people believed that one aeroplane
could dash another to the earth simply
by swooping over and IN front or II. SO
that the air gust from the propeller or
the attacking machine could eaten the
enemy and hurl him down. NOBODY
believed that an aerop(ane would stann
much shell or shrapnel fire. 1t was
pointed out particularly that the pro.
peller of an aeroplane. made OF WOOD
and revolving as it does at such ire
mendous speed as to appear like notn'
Ing but a tremulous haze, was a partlc'
ularly vulnerable point. 1t was pre-
dicted that rife or shrapnel ball strlk.
ing the flying propeller would cause IL
to fly to pieces
The aeroplane has proved stable be-
vond all expectations. A rife ball strlk'
ing. the propeller does nothing but
make hole in one Of the blades. Inc
machine can weather almost any num-
Der of hits in the wings and BODY 80
long as no vital" spot Is struck-such
as the motor, the gas tank or tPe ava
for himself, Moreover, even when the
engine stops as result of some snot
that flnds its mark. the pilot can orten
succeed in volplaning back into MS
own lines. The high speed OF the aero
plane. the erratic course 1t can taKe'
the rapid shifts of altitude that are
possible when necessary, Commune 10
make 1t poor mark for shell nre'
Some OF the light scouting planes
make 12O and 1870 miles an hour. none
Of the belligerents has succeeded IN
hamperine the enemy's air reconals-
sance service seriously.
All this is to the credit OF the
hea yier than air machine. The dir1g
ih,e has certain virtues of its own,
however, In fight with aeroplanes 1t
would not stand much chance. 1t Is
much bigger and hence an easier tar-
ret, not so easily Unanswered. except
that 1t can rise more quickly Tor tlme
and quite defenceless against attacK
from above. It ia much more at the
mercy OF the wind than the aeropiane.
But 1t has immensely more CARVING
capacity. 1t can be loaded with grent
weights Of fuel and ammunition. ID 40
d,tion to large crews. Hence 1t mas q
greater cruising radius. me aero
nlane stays in the air by virtue OF It's
sneed alone. Stop the engine and u
must descend. The dirigible, on the
contrary floats by virtue OF oouyancy'
ana hence can stay aloft for days.
Moreover, it can by virtue OF THESE
qualities fly by night as well as by day.
Night flying is dangerous to the point
OF impracticability for an aeroplane,
because in case Of emergency the pilot
cannot see where he is landing.
In srite of these points, the aero
nlane has probably demonstrated It's
superiority to the dirigible as war
machine But the features in which
; tho. zeppelin type excels are those
which would he of great use In time
~ peace. Carving capacity, the aplf
ity to make flights Of long duration,
and the ability to fly by night are a.!
things to be desired in an air craft
msed in commerce. or for such a pur-
nose as carrying the mails. In spite
81 the much greater cost OF such ma
chine. It seems probable that we may
look for developments In the use OF
the lighter than air craft in this coun'
try in the future.