The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-06-07
~ coXx0ED W|NlAAeAD ce4IHXN 70 JNE caoz00

lore It Is sent from the factory. Still, they admit
tthat a machine so damaged might possibly slip
through without discovery. But they do not be-
ilieve that, up to the present time, any such
damaged machine has been sent to an American
flying field.
And as for the possibility Of a German agent
doing any monkey business with an %airplane
after it is received by a flying field, they scott
without mercy at the mere suggestion. They do
not deny the possibility of spies being present on
any or all the flying fields but they do not be-
aieve that the most astute and malignant German
agent could put anything over In the hangers
which house their steeds of the air.
In charge OF each hangar Is an officer whose
dut~ it is to know all about each machine In It.
what happens to each one. where 1t is at any mo-
ment, and what Its condition Is whenever 1t Is
On the har-ar. Three mechanics are detailed to
each machine to keep 1t in order and groomed
Tor use whenever 1t may be needed. The flying
men are confident that no sabotage could De sue
~cessfully attempted under these conditions except
by means of an organization so large ana SO
unlikely in flying field forces that its possibility
Is not worth considering. In addition, no man
ever takes a plane up from n flying field without
himself first carefully inspecting Its machinery.
The ~aviators are SO confident that the fault does
not lie In the planes that when they are discuss
ING the cause of accidents they do not even men
ton the planes or their machinery. unless they
are questioned by an outsider. Ihey CONNIE
their discussions to the human factor involved
and speculate upon why his nerves or his muscle.
his heart or his brain, failed him at some crucial
moment.
The percentage Of losses among student avia-
tors is much larger at Canadian than at the
American training schools, while the NUMBER OF
fatal accidents at the Canadian field at Fort
Worth, Tex, is appalling. That field mas SUI
fered more casualties than all the other neius TO
gether in Texas. The ayiators OF the American
fields are all of the opinion that the 1atalltles
80. a- So 6ncta ~ "a rpInCCnQSQ ln
training.
A. tho American fields a man must have mao
from four to nine hours of training In the air
with an instructor, the time depending on I'D
nuickness in learning control. before ne IS ailo"eu
to take up a machine by himself.
A "tail spin," one of the causes OF accidehts
most commonly cited. is an acrobatic stunt winch
nm aviator must know how to execute with Skill
and ease. In It he noses his machine downward
with its tail whirling in a circle above MIN WINE
its nose whirls in q similar but snaiier circie
beneath him, and he, in the pilots seat Is the
pivot of the two g%yrations. To the iahusMan ~
sounds a heady sort OF a combination, anu - -
,,kelv TO prove so to the airman unless he mas the
Ino,vladre and the skill with which to manage u.
TO throw his machine In and out OF tall sp'ns 10
q pnrt OF his daily practice after ne Degins tne
acrobatic training. and In a very littie WINE ne
acquires sufficient knowledge Q. Wna' : -
instructive control OF the machinery 70 eAecute
tot, snins as easily and safely as ne coulo tWlrl
lnl CUAA0
- HE toes or turn on his heel II his feet were on
solid ground. q
But he may get into q tall spin acciuen'Any :
-. eor,v lights alone and, although he may
know what is the right thing to do to take tne
machine out Of it, he may lose his head at inc
crucial moment and fail to do what ne ought
Every man. woman, or child who has learned q
nde 4 bicycle or drive an automobile is famiiai
With that unconscious influence Of the mind ovei
the muscles which causes one who has not ye
nnrnr1ofn command OF a maC0lUC x
d-,va etrnirht at the object which he wishes ant
Is doing his best to avoid. The aviator has 9 brie
time IN his training when he suffers from tina
same dlnaculty and at important momen's =
troll stick or his elevator. II he does this wnei
his machine eyks into a. tail spin and his MIND
does not work quickly enough to recognise MI
d,facnlty and do the right thing. q fatal acciden
is very likely to result.
dizziness. sudden panic, failure to think quick
- unconscious movement, Ignorance OF what z
do. may cause a fatal accident when Z learne