The sun., 1918-12-01
a ~ owolRvooo . UNDERWOOD

II you tabulated deaths from auto
mobiles to-day they would far exceed
the deaths from airplanes; hut air
planes are new and spectacular and
we are keeping tab on all deaths. And
every atom that goes into an airplane
to-day is first tested in a laboratory.
saw a careful tahulation and
analysis of airplane deaths not on the
firing line and the fatalities classified
pretty we'll into two basic causes. Cd
structural and (2) stunts at too low
altitude.
Structural causes are being elimin-
ated by the laboratories which are
testing materials and by experiments
the proper engine for the proper
plane and the proper plane for the
proper engine. There are lots OF prob
lens to be solved here yet. Can one
get a surfacing for the airp.ane and
flying boat light as linen and smooth
to the wind as glass that will neither
ravel nor splinter?
Can we get material for a propeller
that will defy any bursting strain up
to the point where speed sets fire.
Can we get a propeller that Will be
elf-starter without the Self-starter
adding what is equivalent to ten gal
Ions more of gasolene to the weight?
Can we get an armor plating for tn"
under side Of the petrol tank that viii
not add weight and so impair velooity2
Germany tried this in her latest ma
chimes; but slower velocity means cas-
Ter aim for the enemy aircraft guns
below, and 1t has been worked out
{ h., . ,-sa1 1r- For
pounds of weight there is loss OF one
mile an hour in speed, and that makes
machine so much more vulnerable to
high velocity bullets and shrapnel.
stunts Perilous, but Needed.
Tail spins, which caused so many
! deaths early in the war, are being
| lessened by stronger wires and struts
and connections for tail and rudder
and wings. How these are tested !
/ shall tell in a later article. Structural
/ defects causing fatal accidents are
/ being remedied every day till birdmen
/ who have driven both airplanes and
automobiles declare they feel safer in
the air than on the ground.
Many, in fact an enormous proper
ton, Of the Iataiitiea result from do
ing stunts at too. low an altitude
, Don't condemn the airman doing
stunts. lie has TO do stunts. He
isn't a good pilot til he can do stunts.
! knowledge Of how to Go st.ntS MAY
save his life, and yours il you are up
with him.
The fault IS doing stunts standing
on his nose, stanlirg on his tall flying
upside down, loop.n- i've loop-at a
low level, for If a propeller or engine
goes wrong under 1000 feet from the
ground the pilot cant choose his land
ing place, and smash in a poor land
'''t pt p'S h ,nr n',.. .r.t g., r.,r 70
over, let II, faer g.. r.-o.cd that &
plane has lately been perfected which
the pilo, can holi nose IN. vertically
poised, w.,t,ut a .. ! 80. l don't
say how long this position could be
held, for don't know. rs it news
TO the la5ma to be todd that the
higher vi m a.r~3n /. TIE safer he
, is? or. To- put Il differently. the
greater deptA % a.r he has under him
the safer he is?
1t is the rocks the deep sea mariner
fears, not the sra l. sF airr1uN'a
engine freezes or goes Ge.d at 10000
feet--though most %! i.- flying
done at between 1000 ANA l5,0U0 t't;
he can glide gently nd 81. ~
eight miles. for one mile ne is
up vertically. In a radius Of eight
miles you are sure to find good
landing place. \ good landin, place
IS free Of wires, stumps. trees, stones,
buildings, II you glide down at sixty
miles an hour and taxi across the
ground till the momentum dies you
want to be sure you have lots Of room
10 run off your velocity.
~
Another point about high flying be-
Ing safest. When you soc an airman
looping the loop higher and Vet higher
up or flying ON his back, don't shivcr'
He is safer than You are below him
If he is above $1,000 feet he couldn't
tall on that seat II two OF You pulled
HIM by the two arms. In fact, the
centrifugal pressure CLUES him tight
TO that seat lie literally needs q
spring cushion IN order not to bruisC
his spine.
We nave learned lots ot lessons as
10 fuel for fast fighting planes In the
last year ana Wen learn lot more
as r the years ps, go S SSo ev,,, -.