New-York tribune., 1918-01-13
When Air Travel Comes Into Its
Own
Sc17bNe1's


EQUALLY concrete and fascinating is
~ Charles Lincoln Freeston's exposi-
ton in Scribner's" for January Of the
safety now to be found in aerial flight.
For the air has been definitely conquered,
says Mr. Preston, and when the war is
over and aviators no longer are forced to
risk their lives in fimsy machines or reck-
less manceuvres air travel will come into
its own and be unbelievably safe. Almost
anything, he says, can be done on a mod
ern airplane. Even if it falls, it will, if far
enough from the ground, right itself un-
aided. The authors explanation Of two of
the less we'll exploited air tricks, the
aerial skid" and the "Immelmann turn"
forms an interesting part Of the sketch:
"Another useful accomplishment is the
aerial skd,' particularly when a duel has
actually begun and the opposing pilots are
man@uvring for position. The motorcar
driver can produce voluntary skid by a sud-
den application of his brakes in kindred
fashion the air pilot can swish his machine
round by putting his ruddcr hard over and
simultaneously actuating the opposite aileron
to prevent the machine from banking. He
has thus turned his machine unexpectedly
round in the quickest possible fashion, and
brought his gun into q more favorable posi-
ton, but is still on the same horizontal plane,
which may suit his purpose for the moment
better than any other form of maneuvring
OF course he has lost his flying speed when
he has swished round, and must be prepared
to dive under the opposing machine as soon
as he has fired his gum The aerial skid is
rot feasible on every machine, it is true, as
in many cases the rudder would not stand
the sudden strain, and as matter Of fact
the maneuvre was first employed by the Ger
mans somewhat heavily built machines
with threc-ply tails.
"The famous 1mmelmann turn so called
is a remarkably effective feat, and one that
has often saved the situation for nilot
under desperate fighting conditions. r. was
not, however, in point of fact invented hv tho
German pilot of that name but was first em-
ployed in aerial warfare by an Englishman
Major Gordon Bell, one of the most exner;
enced and skilful of British nionccr airmen
Even IN British flying circles its origin is not
generally known, and to many rot even its
exact nature; hence | may describe both az
recounted to me by Major Gordon Bell him.
self In August, 1915, Germany assumed =
temporary superiority in the air by the in
PRODUCTION of the Fokker machine, which was
'"S'SA tHd!l iudiy |AIilcQ machines OF that
date and also by The new fighting methods
adopted by lmmelmann and his disciple
soelckc. 1t happened one day that Captain
Bell, AS he then was, suddenly realized that
a toKker was in pursuit. He started to loon
the loop, but the Fokkers speed had brouyht
1t so close that he feared it would ram him
amidshlps while he was on the ascending half
OF the circle, and he therefore suddenly
abandoned his original intention. This in
volved somewhat complicated mannuvre
He turned his machine right over SIDEWAYS
and when it was upside down, though still
travelling forward, he allowed it to fall
downward by the head until it was in the
position Of vertical nose dive He was then
free to descend speedily as possible to
earth. When he had had time to think over
this impromptu mannuvre he realized that it
might be repeated on occasion by intent. and
he first showed his own squadron how to do
it and chen passed it on to other souadrons.
having bestowed upon it, in purely sportive
spirit. the name of the Immelnann turn"