Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-30
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REASON FOR EVERY MISHAP.


sor every aviation accident. Some
times il is an obvious one. but too
often only the dead flyer ever
knew Just what sent his machine
crashing to the ground.
ID to the middle of April there
had been IS fatalities in the six
Texas aviation camps and in many
Of the accidents that caused them
no one knew just what unexpected
condition, just what weakness in
man or material had developed
high in the air. Fort Worth with
rs three aviation fields and it's
preponderance of flyers training
under the British officers in the
ROYAL Flying Corps had 40 deaths
up to April II; Houston was next
with Is.
Crashes may be due to misap-
ulication of rules, unfamiliarity
with peculiar aerial conditions,
faulty material in the airplane,
sudden fright Selling the aviator
or mere recklessness.
In flying there are no brakes to
apply. The pilot must be alert
and ready for any emergency. a
plane just leaving the field has the
advantage over a plane about to
land in an impending disaster. The
landing plane is going much faster
than the one just revived up" The
pilot just starting up must be care
ial not to misjudge his start and
thus be Overtaken by plane that
is powerless to avoid the crash.
Machines passing in the same
direction should have an interval
Of at least 200 yards 10 insure
safety against collisions. When
they are passing over and under,
they must pass at a distance of at
least so yards and those approach
ing a head on pass must have at
least $50 yards between them.
One of the most common reasons
for accidents. as given by tnstruc-
tors, is disObedienCe of orders. AZ
a certain height and going at a
certain well defined speed, so may
loops or dives or whatever man
euyer is TO be adopted, may be
made with safety. If the aviator
disregards the laws of maJhemau-
les in which he has been drilled
and undertakes one more loop, The
consequences may prove fatal.
Landing in a cross wind is high
ly dangerous. 1t frequently causes
the plane to turn completely over
and pins the pilot underneath the
heavy engine
There have been numerous
deaths, flight commanders say from
pilots losing their nerve The
driver finds he has lost control of
MS engine, makes a frantic effort
70 right the plane, fails the first
Time, lapses into Inconsistencies
and the plane falls TO earth at such
terrific speed that the aviator is
aead before be reaches the ground.
During their periods of instruc-
uon, cadets about 10 fly are given
a strict course to follow in the
ar The location in which some
alrplanes have fallen indicated that
NE cadets. once up in the air, dis
regarded their instructions and
followed their own sweet will. Ac-
SoIdlhg 10 the rules of the air If
each plane has kept its course, I'M
DER normal conditions collision
with another plane is not posi-
bic.
Lieutenant c. S. Chase of Filing
ton Field. oHuston, recently de
efloed some of the hazards and
eliies Of an airman. Immediately
following the first exercises in
which the students develop their
sense OF balance and stability, they
are drilled in aerial dynafics.
Lieutenant Chase declared that
ar pockets" are not pockets" az
az but are ascending or descend
ing currents caused by hot and
eoid waves in the air. A plane as
tenos IN warm currents and falls
u cold currents. Forests and
set grass and trees make cool air 3.
.5sei stretches where the sun
saihes contain warm air.