Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-01-16
Single Copies S Cents.
CALLS FLYING
THE REAL THING.
Barton Boy Making Rapid Progress
in Aviation Work. Flying in
Texas Before Going Across.

Hiram Mcclellan, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. John Mcclellan OF Barton, who
passed the rigid physical examination
for aviation service and went to Syr-
acuse, N. Y, in the fall to begin the
study Of the theory of air craft, pass
ing that part of the course with
splendid success, is now making daily
flights on a Texas aviation field, be-
fore being sent to France in the
spring or early summer.
Mcclellan is a boy who makes good
at whatever he undertakes as his
high school work here, and his high
rank in college as a student and field
athlete, shows. In Dartmouth his
rank was among the very first in his
academic work and in gymnasium
athletics and on skis he held some
records. His ski record is over a CO.
foot jump. These words of explain
alton will tend to show why he has
made such rapid strides in his avia-
ton work, where so many who pass
the physical examination, fail in
theory work, in mechanics, or lose
their head or nerve when it comes to
actual flying.
On December 81 Mcclellan writes
his parents as follows:
''You might like to hear that I flew
for the first time alone today. ] took
her up and landed four times alone,
and as I did it to the satisfaction of
my instructor, I shall be flying alone
from now or. It was too windy and
cold to fly Saturday so 7 have had
about 615 days, or 6la hours, in
struction, before taking her alone.
'When I did get up alone l felt
ashamed TO thinl, that it had ever
worried me any. I felt just rs much
at home as I would ia an old Ford.
Ny instructor had three other men,
and he turned one loose along with
me, but IS holding the others for
more instruction. tt seems that some
men Just cannot Gy, 70 matter how
much they so Up, and every few days
some man viii lose his nerve and get
fired or go to balloon school.
"One day It is so cold here / put
on all have and the next day I am
wearing 3. V. D's."
On January 3 ne writes:
"This forenoon it suddenly became
very windy, so that the flying was
stopped for the day. | was in the air
for an hour Just before they stopped
and enjoyed it although the ship
needed pretty careful watching, es-
pecially on the turn. | am practic-
ing landings now, and it is for all the
world like ski-juE7 ping. One after
another, the planes leave the field,
making long circle. climbing all the
while, and then shut off their motors
and come gliding down on to the
field. ! just enjoy climbing until the
men on the field look like specks, and
then have long spiral coast down.
| don't want you to think | am over
confident, but now that / have passed
the most dangerous stage, or that of
making the first flights alone, l don't
think there is the slightest cause for
you to worry any more than you used
to when l went off alone in the car.
"There was a case of measles in
our barracks so that we are quaran-
tined from leaving the field or from
going to any other building in the
field for two weeks or more. This
does not keep us from flying. You
can imagine what weeping there
will be among the Dallas girls when
we don't show up for the Saturday
night dances.
"The captain here signed my ques-
tionnaire, along with those of lot of
other men here, so that think it will
be all right. | wear my mackinaw
and sweater while flying now, but
have ordered a $50 leather coat along
with some other men, so that we get
them for $45. l bought pair of $40
goggles and So leather gloves. 1
have yet to get helmet. The gov
ernment furnishes few here, but it
is nuisance to keep borrowing.
"The weather here is first hot and
then cold. l don't see how the peo-
pie here live as long as they do.
am in fine condition and stand on my
hands every night.
(Cnntinred ON Pare Twol