The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-11-28

dent what a flyer can do. He enters
very fast machine at No. s, with 10
meter wings capable of making 12(
miles an hour. Some of the men droI
out of the training at this point. as II
has become evident that they lack the
dizziness or get faint at the height OF
the heat OF the motor. The rest 20
on to field No. 6. where they begin
pursuit work and some of the early
stages of acrobatic nose dives and
slips.
"There is nothing freakjsh about
these acrobatlcs," said the officer "for
they are one of the most essential
parts of combat aviation. To be a
chase and pursuit pilot one must be
able to out-maneuver the enemy avia-
tor; to make quick turns under fire
and get above your adversary or on
his tail. One of the other will be out
Unanswered, and the enemy is very
skillful at acrobatics. and he must be
beaten at his own game"
Lieut.. Quentin Roosevelt was In
command Of field No. while he was
here, and his machine stood in the
hangar with group of fliers about 1t,
paying tribute to the splendid quail
ties and daring OF their late leader.
This is the field on which formation
flying is begun, in squadrons up to IS
machines, but usually with FIVE The
squadron flies in v-shape, with the
commander at the apex Of the V, car
rying a streamer which signals the
commands. A fleet Of IS machines
was started as we passed. and an
other had just come In after two hours
difficult evolution executed by "cross-
ing the controls" so that the rudder
serves as elevator and the elevator
serves as rudder.
Camera Like q Gun.
On the combat and acrobatic fields,
Nos. and o, scores Of machines were
In the air going through their fighting
evolutions or dipping and looping. The
combat airplanes carried camera guns,
A novel device combining dummy ma
chine gun and Photographic camera.
II looks like gun, but as the trigger
Is pulled the camera takes a picture
IF the target showing just what would
have been hit If shot instead Of a
ems had blazed ahead.
1t was over the acrobatic field that |
he real wonders were going on, In
ne vertical virage spirals and wing |
dips. Spectacular as these seemed |
% be, each had its use In the fighting |
,ame. The ''vrille" is that dizzy head |
irst tumble, and the chief thing is
not to do 1t but to undo 1t and come |
,ut of it. 1t has its uses, too. in de-
eiving the enemy into the belief that |
he aviator has been hit and is tum-
ling. then as the enemy Is off guard,
Ittacking him suddenly as the aviator
'omes out of his headlong dive. One
" the flyers made four vrilles as we
&
at Is dangerous only when near the
said the escort. High in
he air there is comparatively no
anger, for there is plenty Of time to
ct your levers so that you're sure to
ONE out of the vrille."
Others were doing the spiral, an
ther form of head-first dive, except
hat the car is always under control,
1hereas in the vrille the control Is
)st until the aviator succeeds in
merging from his fall. Often the
,achine seemed TO stop suddenly, turn
yer, and then glide away in the oppo-
lite direction right side upon
One of the best maneuvers for es-
ape from dangerous fight is the
critical wing-slip. as 1t is the fastest
ieaps of losing altitude and getting
Glow an unequal combat. When an
maneuver misses or is badly
one 1t Is pancake" or a ''barrel."
here is as much lingo to the aviation
cid as there is to the baseball dia-
Iond.
Leaving the field we passed Grip
led aviator limping on crutches-
He has had 81 crashes" said the
ficer, (which is about the record.
ut he goes back every time and he's
,ger now TO get in his machine again.
nd that is the spirit of every man I
ere. to be ready for combat and to .
Eat the Boche."