New-York tribune., 1917-12-16
Good Plotting Is
Almost Subconscious

To drive an aeroplane is nothing at
all-all kinds Of men and some women
make good aviators-but to pilot it as
one must in an aerial combat, is ex-
tremely difficult A pilot must be able
to DO with his machine all that he
wishes. He must make it respond to
his very emotions; it must be part
of him, as the horse becomes part Of
an experienced rider In fact, to enter
the Royal Flying Corps Of Great Brit
ain a knowledge OF horsemanship is re-
quired, and the sympathy of action
between horse and man must be dupli-
Gated between aUion and pilot. He must
be able TO do the most complicated
acrobatic feats automatically while his
mind is on other matters. lie must
never be occupied for second with
the handling Of his machine. That
must always be secondary consldera-
tion-a reflex, subconscious. This is
thing that is only acquired by months
Of methodical and constant training,
and to il too much Importance cannot
be attached.
This is in addition TO his knowledge
of methods Of fighting. This, too, must
be perfect, and is a thing that changes
almost from day to day. As our own
pilots or the enemy'5 develop new
tricks and modes of attack or escape,
principles that are right to-day may
be wrong tomorrow. 1t is possible
the Boche has learned an answer 70
them. Also the pilot must consider all
ths different types OF machines with
which he may come into conflict. There
are many Of these-every once IN a
while the enemy will produce a new
one, as recently, with the Gothas-and
each machine must be met and attacked
I'm a different manner. There are dill
feriug types used along different Sec
tors Of the front, and a pilot trans
ferrcd 10 new territory viii nave
trouble for days before he gets ac-
quainted.
Thus the science Of air combat is al
ways Az almost exact thing. Few
movements have not been tried; few
have been found for which no answer
possible. Each maneuvre, 10 the
skilled pilot, calls for definite re-
spOnse; each position in relation 70 his
enemy indicates what his next move
and the Doche's-should be. In fact,
the science has become in many ways
ike that of fencing. where the OPP
ronents each count on the other doing
the expected thing, and attempts TO win
~ catching the other OF guard, or
frhting with a little more dash and
power than his enemy.
lt is passible that his confidence In
this code was the cause OF Guynemer's
death. He particularly enjoyed outfy-
ing and outmanmuvring his enemies,
and ther. when their nerve wGs frayed,
administering the death stroke. The
iIun pilot who brought him down was
a novice, as is shown by the fact that
he was himself killed within a few
days, and by his boasting letter 10 his
mother that snow she need have no fear
for him, since he had conquered the
greatest Of all airmen." But novices DO
the unexpected, and il is possible that
this youngster, instead OF replying to
one Of Guynemcr's msneuyres, by "eX-
ecuting a position OF advantage" as the
French acc expected, became excited
and did ".hr wrong thing according TO
the book, but one which caught Guy
nemer Off has guard.
Let us now star: with a French
patrol on the days work. These chdSse
patrols always work IN groups Of six
or more. except the aces, who are
sometimes allowed to ly in pairs. To
As alone is suicide. and there must be
several planes ~ approach any degree