Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-08-30
Tells Of Learning to F1y-Everythina
About the Camp II Speedy.

About the Camp II Speedy.
A recent letter Of interest from Charles
S. Jones Of Castleton. VT, a graduate of
the Rutland high school. also of Mid
dlebury College and since his graduation
a physical instructor at Montclair Acad-
envy, Montclair, N. j., Is published in the
Troy Times. Mr.. JONES' after completing
the aviation course at Urbana, ILL.,. has
just been sent to Dayton, Ohio, to try
flying. Extracts from his letter follow
and give some first impressions of flyer:
"Well, flying has no more preliminary
thrills for me now. as have made four
flights and feel we'll broken in. It is sure
ly wonderful experience and 1t beats
any sport have ever tried. 1t made my
first trip Thursday morning at 1O:3O Six
Of US were assigned to a standard plane
with young scout named Hughes from
Mineola as instructor. He is a peach.
The first trip was merely ride. as he
went UP about 1000 feet. 1t was much as
expected, only less exciting. There was
not nearly as much wind as I expected,
but Of course the noise is deafening. We
dash along the ground for hundred
yards and suddenly II becomes smooth
and you are flying. These standard planes
are very stable and only make about 60
miles an hour. The air around gets
bunny and occasionally your support
screws give way and your plane drops or
else mounts suddenly. giving much the
same feeling as an elevator. At 1000 feet
people look like ants and autos along the
white ribbon road appear to only crawl.
The best sensation is when the motor Is
| throttled and you start to glide when
| coming down in long swoops and straight
| ening out and gliding along the ground
till you come to a halt. Friday l made
two trips. After about five minutes we
broke a drift wire. admit had funny
| feeling when I looked up and a saw a
wire break but 1t was not serious, as
| we merely came down and put in a new
one. On the second trip was allowed
| to take hold Of the controls lightly just
to see how they felt. Yesterday we went
UP about 1900 feet. when took control
Of the machine. 1t is really not very hard
except that you have to watch for bal
| ance and keep her level and there is a
tendency to nose her up or down when
one Is first learning When the instructor
| shakes the wheel, we have to throw our
heads UP IN the air and let him have
! control. This Is in case we do something
wrong SO he can correct 1t. The danger
| Is slight, as we can get down even If the
motor stops. There have been a number
Of minor accidents. Everything here is
speed. Planes travel from 40 to 90 miles
an hour. and when anything happens the
wreclxing crew dash out by auto about
so miles an hour and the ambulances just
| as fast. Even the water sprinklers go
| over 30 miles an hour, so you see this is a
| speedy place. We are to see some good
flying this morning. as the aviation board
from Washington is here and they are to
give some exhibitions. The food is ex-
cellent. the barracks comfortable ami the
fellows fine. I don't envy the fellows sent
to France one bit. as think we will get
our commissions before they fly, but we
| can't tell yet"