The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-07
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL.
INFORM ALTON
BUREAU-
FREDERIC J. HAEKIN. Dirsut0r
Washington. .. c.
SECOND CALL FOR FLYERS.
Washington. p. C.

months military dV1dWCn mas Doeu
closed to the civilian on the ground
that there were insufficient airplanes.
and, besides, q large reserve list of
eligible cadet flyers. This reserve,
known as the reservoir, seemed for q
time inexhaustible. OF late, however,
cadets have been steadily drawn into
service until now, according to the
war department, the reservoir is
drained.
The recent call for aviators in large
numbers indicates much greater speed
in the aircraft production program.
Since our entry into the war, the SIZE
of our aviation corps has been limited
by slow delivery of machines. This
made it impractical to train thousands
of eligible applicants. But now the
manufacturers are making speed and
our record shows more than i've thou-
sand planes built in this country in
service. Our early record for 1917
showed but some two hundred planes,
and those fit only for training pur--
poses. Up to the first of September of
this year, when American manufac-
turers started production on q guam
tity basis, there have been delivered
twelve hundred de Haviland combat
planes and six thousand liberty mot
ors. Besides this, training planes had
been turned out in great Quantities.
Since the first of last month an even
greater increase has been made in air
craft production. The government
has offered prizes to factories making
the best records and perfect work at
top speed" has been adopted as the
slogan of the aircraft factory.
Need for some thousands of flyers
to man this steadily growing aircraft
fleet, and for artisans and mechanics
to care for the planes, is SO great that
recruit men for>this work in advanee
of pending draft calls. The division
of military aeronautics states that OPP
poftunity is now open to skilled work
men and robust young men interested
in aeronautics to join the air forces
of the country.
For applicants for flight training the
main requirements are youth. a per-
feet physique and q high rate of in
telligence. Nineteen to Is are the
preferred ages, tho men up to 81 are
considered. 1t IS pretty well known
that all of the aces who have distin-
suished themselves by conspicuous
deeds of bravery are scarcely more
than boys. These young experts have
for their safeguards absolutely normal
faculties and the intuition which some
how protects youth. They cam at
tempt, without risk, feats which alarm
an older man unused to greater strain
than that OF a short run for q street
car.
A fifteen thousand foot change of
altitude is only one of the tests of
lungs and heart which the aviator will
have to stand. Perfect hearing, per-
feet sight and strong sense Of
equilibrium are among the other Ire
quirements. The prospective aviator
must measure up to the highest stand
ard of physical perfection, handsome
features being the only physical quail
fication not required. The strict
physical examination given the appli-
cant often reveals unsupported def
ciencies, and faculties that were con-
sidered normal often prove insuffi-
GENTLY acute for the exacting business
of running an afrplane. Heart. ears
and eyes are the three most important
organs in the anatomy Of the aviator,
and also they are the three which keep
most, men out of aviation. Besides good
physical condition, the svould-be flyer
must have sufficient mental aptitude
to grasp the technical subjects taught
at every aviation school. These in
clude flight principles, radio, gunnery
and artillery observation.
Registrars who desire induction as
student flyers are authorized to rapport
to the personnel section, division OF
military aeronautics. Washington, D.
c.. or to one OF the aviation examin-
ing boards, which are located as fol-
lows: Atlanta, Boston. Chicago, Los
San Francisco, st. Louis, Dallas and
Fort Sill.
Artisans are needed in far greater
numbers than the flyers. For each
flyer there must be forty or more
ground men to repair and inspect
to the army until it makes its last trip.
an airplane requires constant atten-
ton. 1t must be inspected and p9o-
nounced in perfect order before a pr
lot can take 1t up, and 1t must be over
hauled and thoroly repaired when it
is returned to the field. Because the
slightest defect may cause an acct
dent, this work is as important as
that of the aviator, even tho less con-
spicuous. Men between the ages of
Is and SIS interested in this type of
army service are instructed to ad-
military aeronautics, Washington, 2.
c., or the air service officer. de-
partmentaf headquarters hof the
army, at Boston, New York, Chicago,
Charleston. S. c., or San Antonio, Tex.
The tradesmen most essential to the
met makers, carpenters. riggers, pro-
peller makers. stenographers cleo
trieians, radio operators and tailors.
In order that enlisted men may have
the same opportunity of entering the
aviation corps as civilians they will
be given a chance to apply for any
position in the corps for which they
can quality. This makes available as
flyers many desirable men who enter
ed other branches Of the service when
the aviation corps was closed to en-
listment.
The eagerness Of American boys to
enter the United States aviation corps
is seen in the thousands OF applications
which have been received during the
past seven months when no flyers
were being accepted. and consequently
no statements were being published to
further recruiting for this work. Ono
instance characteristic of the American
spirit is that of a Harvard student
who tried every means of becoming 4
United States aviator and was every
where told that no more aviators were
needed. He had to his credit training
camp experience. two years of college,
and previous empIOyment in an air.