The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1918-08-29
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-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 a
man who lacks confidence in himself
and is inclined to hesitate. A half
second of indecision may be fatal. In
itiative, the sporting instinct and a
certain irresponsibility, 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-
sable qualifications. But most irnpor-
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 defects. But some
times even serious surgical opera
ton is not regarded as important.
Thus a doctor recently passed as fit
for flying man who had quite large
piece missing from the frontal region
Of the skull. It 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
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.
Self-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 for
sobriety- walking a 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, seeing
that an aviator flying in dark cloud
or in q fog becomes unconscious of his
position and sometimes the machine
is actually upside down. 1t is essen
tial that he should not lose a second
in recovering his balance.
The throat, nose and ear are care
fully examined, for any defects might
seriously handicap a man during the
great strain that all flying imposes.
With regard to the eyes, it is consid-
cred that pilots should have perfect
color vision, in order to pick out the
color or marking Of hostile machines,
and In recognizing signal lights and in
judging the nature of landing grounds.
Air Sickness Rare.
A candidate who suffers from sea-
sickness or train sickness would not
be rejected on those grounds alone.
Air sickness, caused by the rolling and
pitching of the airplane, is very rare
complaint, and sickness usually occurs
Immediately after landing.
An unstable nervous system suggest
ed by fidgety movements of the hands,
feet or face, or biting the nails is
poor recommendation.
Aero-neurosis is the name which is
sometimes given to nervous troubles
brought about by the strain of flying.
1t has been said that an airman's life
consists of '1ong spells of idleness
punctuated by moments of intense
fear" He has to endure intense cold,
rain, wind and fog, the nerve-racking
noise of the engine, the antiaircraft
fire, and to loop, spin, dive or side
slip, apparently out of control, in or
der to deceive an opponent. An in
teresting nerve test has been devised
in France for selecting the best types
of airmen for fighting. Around his
chest is a pneumograph, in his left
hand trembler, and around two fin
gers of his right hand pneumatic
sdoigtier." Behind the candidate a
revolver shot is fired or magnesium
Aoro ac cot off and q record of fhH