The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-12-25
Ry Inhn T. McCuicheon.

BY John T. McCutcheon.
LONDON. Dec. 25-When Col
Franklin Kenny first spoke to me
about voice control in aviation ! did
not know what he meant lie then cS,
planned that il meant the direction OF
aDplane, hy means Of the human voice.
and that a iligh, commander mp IN
the SKY could give hi, orders TO his
squadron just as the infantry officer
gives his commands 10 the men IN the
field. II seemed an incredible achieve
mcnt lie also said tina, orders could
he given from the ground 10 a squad
ron thousands Of feet up
The same afternoon wc went out to
Boiling field, near Washington, and
we-e given a demonstration OF voice
control by Col Clarence Curtis Cul.
yer. who has developed the system 70
It's present state OF sucee"
Response IL Perfect
-Four army planes under command
Of Captain Lucas were sent up IN
squadron formation, while We, witt
telephone receivers al our ears. re-
manned below 70 hear and see the
practical application OF the invention
Captain Lucas plane flew above III,
wedge formed hy the three o,hct
plane, Presently We heard IN cllr
voice. which VIC recognized as that o.
tap'ainflIcle. the command
Column righ'"
Column lett"
go" aG
And, waighng the squadron hgl
above US. We saw the other plane
turn 10 the right
That's right Hurry up, 30.
That's better"
Reverse left"
Reverse left"
"Gor
The squadron instantly rcSponde,
10 the new command
NO , you're out OF line DO yot
hear me, No p
Signal by Dips.
Number dipped twice in a sigma
OF assent The plane, were $
equipped that only the commando
could transmit by voice, while IN
other planes could only receive Tn
latter made their responses by tw
horizontal dips indicating the mega
tive and two vertical dip, indicatin
the affirmative The officers on III
ground have instrument, which ma
be adjusted both to receive and trans
init
Reverse right"
go"
That's fine. Now come back wher
they can see us better" The squadro
had gone some distance away, but
now swung around and soon wa
above us again.
"Are YOU 2C00 feet up, No -
Number gave the negative sign
two horizontal dips-and rose a, one
to the required height.
1.-TWO tail spin, Two tail spins Go
Instantly the three plane, droppe
into two tail spins and as the las, ,pi
was about finished, we heard Luea
voice calmly say.
Come ont OF your tail spin, No
you're too low"
The planes came out of their "a
spins and received Lucas mex, orde
"All righ, now. Cut off your Ct
gine,"
A couple OF moment, later the for
Vtann. lanIaI 10,
almost simultaneously and We wei
over 10 see the wireless, inS,alla,lo
in the captains plane
Control IL Simple.
A little switchboard les. than q fot
square faced the pilot, sea, and
means of switches and buttons
could control the sending OF hi, con
mands A turn OF switch cou
strengthen the voice in case it wa, n,
carrying distinctly Attached TO OF
Of the landing struts was a dynan
upon which wa, fixed a small woodt
propeller which spun rapidly when Il
machine was IN flight and thus gcl
Grated power in the dynamo.
A trailing wire about $50 feet lor
wa, attached to each plane and III
served TO catch the aerial waves
the message. |, all seemed amaring
simple, but the thing ,ha, mys,iii,
me was why the terrific noise of Il
engine, did not entirely obli,era,e Il
sound Of the small human voice. Ar
the answer 10 that was equally sin
pie, or at least j, sounded simple
il wa, explained to me.
Matter Of Vibration.