The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1918-07-05

which Il Il subjected be-
fore Il IL sent from the factory. Sun. they admit
that a machine so damaged might possibly alp
through without discovery. But they do not be-
neve that. up to the present time. any such
damaged machine has been sent to an American
flying deld.
And as for the possibility Of n German agent
doing any monkey business" with an airplane
after Il Is received by n flying field. they scon
without mercy at the mere suggestion. They do
not deny the possibility OF spies being present on
any or all the dying fields but they do not be-
lieve that the most astute and malignant German
agent could put anything over In the hangers
which house their stecds OF the air.
In charge OF each hangar II an officer whose
duty Il Is TO know all about each machine In Il.
what happens TO each enc, where II Is at any mo-
ment. and what It's condition Is whenever Il Is
In the hangar. Three mechanics are detailed 20
each machine 90 keep Il In order and groomed
for use whenever Il may be needed. The flying
men are confident that no sabotage could be sue
~ccasfully attempted under these conditions except
by means OF an organization 80 large and 80
unlikely In nying field forces that its possibility
Ia not worth considering. In addition. no man
ever takes a plane up from a flying field without
himself first carefully inspecting It's machinery.
The ayiators arc 30 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 nm outsider. They connne
their discussions 10 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 ayia'
tors Is much larger ut Canadian than at the
American trimming schools, while the number OF
fatal accidents at the Canadian field at Fort
Worth, Tex. II appalling. That held has SUI
fered more casualties than all the other helds to-
gether In Texas. The avihtors OF the American
fields are all OF the opinion that the fatalities
there are mainly due TO haste and carelessness In
training.
Al the American Fields a man must have had
from four TO nine hours OF training In the air
with an instructor, the time depending on his
auickness In learning control, before he Is allowed
TO take up a machine by himself.
A stall spin" one OF the causes OF accidents
most commonly cited. Is an acrobatie stunt which
an aviator must know how to execute with skin
and ease. In Il he noses his machine downward
with It's tail whlrling In a circle above him. while
It's nose whlrls IN a similar but smaller circle
beneath him. and he. In the pilots seat IL the
pivot OF the two gyutions. To the landsnhn IL
sounds q heady sort OF n combination, and Il Is
likely 10 prove 30 20 the airman unless he has the
knoWledge and the skill with which TO manage H.
To throw his machine in and out Of tall spins Is
n nnrt OF his daily practice after he begins the
acrobatic training. and In a very little while ne
acquires sufficient knowledge OF what to DO anu
instructive control OF the machinery 10 execute
tail spins ns easily and safely as he could twirl
ON his toes or turn on his heel II his feet were on
solid ground.
nut he may get into a tail spin accidentally In
his early flights alone and, although ne may
know what Is the right thing TO do to take the
machine out Of Il. he may lose his bead ut tho
crucial moment and fail 70 do what he ought
EVERY man. woman, or child who has learned TO
ride a bicycle or drive an automobile Is thhHiar
with that unconscious influence OF the MIND over
the muscles which causes one who has not YET
acquired complete command OF a machine TO
drive straight at the object which he wishes ana
IA doing his best 10 avoid. The aviator has a Oriei
time In his training when he suffers from tha'
same difficulty and at important moments u
prone 90 give the wrong pressure upon MS con
troll stick or his elevator. II he does TINS "hen
his machine goes into a tall spin and his mind
does not work quickly enough 70 recognize MS
dinhculty and do the right thing, a fatal accident
IL very likely 10 result.
Dizziness, sudden panic. failure 20 think quick
~, unconscious movement, ignorance OF what 70
DO, may cause a fatal accident whom a learner