The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-10-08
DEFECTS SPELL
DEATH IN FLYING
Psychological as Well as Physio-
logical Factors Respon-
sibIe for Accidents.
SCIENTISTS EXPLAIN THEM
Some of the Qualities That Give Amer.
leans Superiority in Air Over
Their Hun opponents-Ten-
permanent Is Important.

Their Hun opponents-Tem-
permanent Is Important.
New York.-Considerable concern
has been expressed at the large num-
Der OF fatal accidents reported from
our American military and naval avia-
ton training camps. Considering the
risks the novice necessarily takes and
the very special physiological and psy-
Geological factors that enter into the
science of flying, these fatal accidents
are few in proportion to the number
of men undergoing training, and they
are not more numerous than those on
the training fields of Great Britain,
France and Italy.
A perfect knowledge of all the rules
of the game of flying will not save
man who lacks confidence in himself
and is inclined to hesitate. A half
second of indecision may be fatal. In
itiatiye, the sporting instinct and
certain responsibility, qualities In
herent in American youth, have been
found of far greater value in the air
than the logical, scientific, severely
disciplined character of the Germans,
and account for the superiority of the
allied aviators in general.
The most eminent of British scien-
lists have devoted special study to the
psychological and physiological as
poets of flying.
One authority says that good eye
sight, normal hearing, good muscle
sense" and equilibration are indispen-
tant of all is the right temperament
| not an easy thing for medical board
| to examine. OF the types-the imagi-
native and the unimaginative-the
imaginative youth is said to make the
| better pilot If he can keep his imagi-
| nation under control.
Surgical Operations No Bar.
In the British air service previous
] history Of wounds and disease Is thor
oughly investigated. Persistent head
aches, vertigo and easily induced IA
tigue are serious defectA But some
| times even a serious surgical opera
| ton Is not regarded as important.
Thus q doctor recently passed as f1t
for flying a man who had quite large
piece missing from the frontal region
of the skull. 1t is much more impOr-
tant that man should have both
arms intact than both legs. A clever
pilot who was killed on the western
front was Lord Lucas, who had an
artificial leg.
Considerable Importance is attached
to the respiratory system. In addition
to good, healthy lungs and vital capac-
ity, the would-be pilot must pass q
breath-holding test. This gives an In
dication Of his capacity to stand the
strain of flying at high attitudes,
where the air is rarefied and breath.
ing is difficult No man with weak
heart can hope to pass the tests.
Se1f-balancing is another test. The
candidate has to stand on one leg with
his eyes shut and his hands on his
hips. There is also the old test FOL
sobriety-walking straight line heel
to toe with eyes open and then turn
ing round and walking back without
losing balance. The Importance Of
this test can be understood, seeinf
] that an aviator flying In dark cloui
t / or in a fog becomes unconscious Of hi
| position and sometimes the machine
is actually upside down. It is essen
| tial that he should not lose second
. in recovering his balance.
The throat, nose and ear are care
) fully examined, for any defects NIGH
: seriously handicap man during TIT
Il great strain that all flying imposes
With regard to the eyes, 1t is consid
: cred that pilots should have perfec
color vision, in order to pick out thu
i color or marking of hostile machines
, and in recognizing signal lights and il
judging the nature of landing grounds
Air Sickness Rare.
A candidate who suffers from sea
sickness or train sickness would no
t be rejected On those grounds alone
r Air sickness, caused by the rolling an,
pitching of the airplane, is very rar
4 complaint, and sickness usually occur
: Immediately after landing.
u An unstable nervous system suggest
!. ed by fdgery movements of the hands
i, feet or face, or biting the nails Is
J. poor recommendation.
Aero-neurosis is the name which
d sometimes given to nervous trouble
brought about by the strain Of flying
Y 1t has been said that an airman's hf
O consists of 'slong spells of idlenes
h punctuated by moments Of fntens
fear He has to endure intense colo
It rain, wind and fog, the nerve-rackin
!. noise of the engine. the antiaircraf
!. fire. and TO loop, spin, dive or side
Il slip, apparently out Of control, in OF
der to deceive an opponent. An II
i teresting nerve test has been devise
in France for selecting the best type
of airmen for fighting. Around hi
: chest is a pneumograph, In his lei
, hand trembler, and around two fiji
gers of his right hand pneumati
, sdoigtierr Behind the candidate
!. revolver shot is fired or a magnetism
: flare is set off, and a record of tn