The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-09-15
LEARNING TO FLY
IS THRILLING WORK
Novice Tells Of Being Lost in Clouds
On His Second Flight Alone
Lands in Il Corntield.

An officer of the Royal Fixing
Corps gave this account recently OF
his experiences as an alrman:
"Learning to fly is Il tickliSh .tSl-
ness. Even today, when so mucA I'M
prUVement has been made in every
department OF the craft. you must
keep your wits about You. for no
matter how much YOU take TO heart
the advice that when in difficulty let
90 OF the controls. and the machine
will recover itself, it is not nearly so
easy as il sounds.
Two years ago, however, the be
ginner had considerable reasons for
difIidence, and it was, | must con-
fess. with Il certain amount of fear
that | undertook my first 'Solo'tli ght.
II was a beautifully calm eyeRing,
however, and all went Well Need
less to say | was on excellent terms
with myself when | TAXED gently up
to the hangers and stepped our Of
my machine amidst the cheers o. the
mechanics and pupils. a proud mo-
ment was that, and more than worth
the initial risks to enjoy.
Il already considered myself ! pi-
lot, and began to fOresee days in the
very near future when | would be up
in the cloudlesS blue searching for
Huns. But this was far flight into
the clouds of fancy, for | was, as yet,
uninitiated into the hardships and
difficulties of pilots in the Il. +. G.
Early next morning early. in
deed, that it was yet dark-after a
cup Of hot tea. l made my way TO the
~
were overhauling and repairing ma
chimes for the days flying.
Il chose my pet machine. and with
my instructors consent, it was
wheeled out into the aerodrome, and
rested on the damp, dewy grass, a
gaunt spectre silhouetted against the
sun, which was rising in a deep blue
sky. Willing hands swung the pro-
peller and in few minutes | was
in the air After practicing Few
turns | was seized with sudden
desire for exploration, much as
child sets out confidently in search OF
adventure Adventure, with an air
man is never far absent, but no
thrills are quite equal to those eX-
perienced by a novice upon his first
flight alone.
My ecstasy prompted me to show
myself off. at a neighboring town, ov-
er which l gave of my very best dis
play. and then, bethinking me of the
punishment which awaits truant chill
dren, teven with airmen), | thought
it time to make tracks for home.
Again, as with truant children, Meme
sis waited upon me. My way was
barred by thick white clouds, above
which | had to climb, and here, with
tlcecy pillows below and the earth
out of sight, | seemed to have en-
tered upon world of dreams.
Dreams, however, don't pay when
taking a flight When chance look
at the compass showed that l had
turned right round and was making
in the wrong direction altogether l
came down through the eloudSAAant
was unable to pick up any land
marks L had lost my way and was
under the necessity of making
landing on strange ground, COM
mon trap for the unwary.
4 picked out a nice looking field,
and came down.
1T was not until | was only few
feet off the ground that l discovered
the ground was a cornfield, but l Ian
ded with nothing worse than a bent
axle | will not go into details as to
how | dragged the owner of the HELD
out of bed, got Scythe, and moved
myself a path to take off from my
return journey, which was accom-
plished without further incident be-
yond a wigging from my instructor,
which somehow impressed me very
little.
"A good pilot early develops the
homing instinct, and despite the fact
that on active service he has machine
guns to fire-bombs TO drop-photo-
graphs to lakeland a dozen other
things as well, he always finds his
way back to hish hanger.
Our young airmen become vete-
rams very quickly, they master the
technique and spirit of flying with
amazing efficiency, and they have
done much to make possible our vic
tories on the western front. Nobody
knows this better than the Boche.