The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-06-06
Joy-Riding in Aeroplane Great
Sport, if Earth Does Turn Over

Donald Warfel. formerly Of the Pal
ladium staff, now a sergeant in the
aero service, stationed in England. en-
joyed his first ride in an airplane so
much that he is eager to learn flying
as quickly as possible He writes as
follows to his parents:
| England, May 10, 1918.
Dear Folks: Well. took my first
| joy-ride' in an aeroplane last night,
and it is some great sport. l went
(, out to the aerodrome last night and
| got permission from one OF the in
structors to be allowed to go up as a
passenger. and one of the young fell
lows that just graduated from his
course in flying took me up in one OF
the big planes. 1t is great sport, and
have the flying bug in my bonnet
already. Flying rules over here are
somewhat different to what they are
in the States, and a flyer can take
any passenger that may care to fly,
provided the permission of an instruc-
tor is given.
a. went up about o'clock last
night, and it was just as warm as
could be. After getting up about 3d.
600 feet in the air, we flew all about
the countryside and over this town,
and it surely looked funny. The
country looked just like a big piece
of patchwork, with several different
colors to make up the pattern. Here
was plowed field, of one colored
earth, then perhaps next to that was
a field whereon the vegetation had
just started. making another color
! nd fol
of butter cups, all joined together
with ribbons of dark green formed by
trees and hedges joining them togeth-
er. making different shades of green,
brown and yellow. The river. which
is about the size of the river there at
home looked just like a piece Of rope
that had been laid on the ground all
curled in different shapes. The town
here looked like bunch Of little box
es more than houses, and railroad
train looked like the smoke from an
ordinary cigar After floating around
for about fifteen minutes at 5000, we
went up another thousand feet and
the pilot turned around and motioned
for me to hold tight and then pointed
down.
Up Two Thousand Feet.
This part was the best of all, for
the earth just seemed to move around
in front of US, and we turned, or rath-
er it seemed as though the earth turn
ed couple Of times, and he pointed
to the "altometer" device for show.
ing height, and it registered just two
thousand feet. We dropped this dis
lance in what seemed to be a few
seconds. although it took much long
err than that. I really enjoyed that
part of it, which is called a nose
spin, and is considered one Of the
dangerous tricks of flying when per-
formed near the ground, but we were
up too high to cause any trouble.
After the stunts, we came down a
little, and | was able to distinguish
some OF the people and animals on
the ground. Cattle looked about the
size OF big rats, and sheep, of which
there are many over here, looked Just
like brood of newly Matched chicks.
1t was rather thrilling coming back to
the ground, but the pilot was a good
one, and we slowly glded down over
the hangers and out into the field,
and 1t just seemed as If we were in
an automobile and struck a rut when
the place hit the ground.
1T is wonderful sport alright. AID
! envy those fellows that are able to
fly all the time. but some time | hope
to be able to take one of the birds for
myself. and handle the stick" as the
control lever is called.
| We'll, folks, that is about all of the
tale of the flight, but l am still ready
to inform you that have received no
\ ho
home since April Z, and that is almost
TWO months ago. Kindly hurry a
Few letters. post card, and couple
or packages along. just TO keep me
| company"
A friend received the appended let
! ter from Warfel in Wednesdays mail.
| Dear Friend:
! Aside from the fact that I have
made startling discovery over here,
am not bothered with any strain,
mental or otherwise. But never the
less, must inform you of wonderful
thing that | saw today. 1t is rather
commonplace when one thinks of the
parts that go to make up this wonder
full scene, but when they are put to-
gether, the result made me marvel at
the wonder of it. Here is what l saw
| oStuu1Ay SdZCO upOu d UidCh Crow.
and this bird was upholding the
"caws' in real hickory tree. My
mind naturally wondered back to the
days when we used to carol away
about the "Old Black Crow In the
Hickory Tree" but little did think
In those balmy days that would have
to wander into England to witness the
aforesaid crow In his native haunt in
a hickory tree
l am stationed in q town that Is near
big estate known as ----- park and
this park. or rather estate has q large
clump Of hickory trees. 1t is here
that / saw the bird. We are surely
having some wonderful weather over
here, not to change the subject
Spring is here, and this country is
beautiful at this time Of the year.