The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-12-11

are the pilots and observers
themselves. This statement, while
perhaps a little broad, is not at all
untrue. without efficient mechanics
the pilots wings would soon be clipped
and there would be few, If any. ships
available with which they could take
the air.
When this country entered the great
conflict 1t Is no exaggeratiOn to say
that there were no more than one
thOusandth of the mechanics needed to
make the repairs necessary to keep
great mir fleet in the air. To take from
the airplane industries the few me-
chanics who did know airplane work
would have been simply case Of rob
bling Peter to pay Paul." inasmuch rs
the mechanics In the factories are VI
tally necessary for production. A new
industry has therefore sprung up IN
this country, and that industry is or
ganized under the name of "Air Serv-
ice Mechanics Schools"
There are two such schools In oper-
alton, one at st. Paul, MIMI, and the
other at Kelly Field, South San An
tonic, Tex. These schools are In eff
feet factories, the product being high
grade airplane mechanics and the raw
material from which they are made,
garage men. carpenters, blacksniths,
metal workers, tailors, etc. The two
schools are conducted on identically
the same basis and produce all the
tradesmen that are needed for the aero
service squadrons. The trades taught
are the following:
Airplane mechaniclans, blacksmiths.
cabinet makers, carpenters, chauffeurs,
cOppersmiths, electricians, fabric work
ers, instrument repair men, magnetic
repair men. metal workers, motorcy-
clists, motor mechanicians, propeller
makers, vulcanizers, welders.
First Tests.
A students life from the moment
of entering the air service to the time
when he finds himself competent air
plane mechanic in service squadron
at the front Is something like this: He
IL first indicted or drafted, assigned
to the air. service, and ordered to one
Of the mechanics schools. Upon his
arrival he Is trade-tested by techni-
cal board formed for that purpose and
classified as possible motor mechani-
clan, an airplane mechaniciaA (air-
plane mechanicians do the rigging OF
all airplanes), fabric worker, an cleo.
trician, or any one Of the trades which
are required. The trade test board
uses a mans past record as basis
for determining his probable ability
II he has been a garage man and has
specialized on the upkeep of trucks
| he will probably be trained as chauf!
feur. II he has specialized more OF
| less on magnetic work, he will probably
| be trained on ignition with particular
reference to that very delicate me
chanism, the Liberty ignition system
| The trade test finished, the man IL
assigned to his squadron at the school
and to his cot and Is made thorough
IL comfortable. The next day, In oil
| probability. his real work will begir
Swhen he IL assigned to his class ir
| whatever trade he Ii to be trained
The largest number Of mechanics re
| Quired In sQuadrons are riggers, SO thu
typical case In mind will probably h
. rigger. This man has probabl.
never seen an airplane except at tn
country circus. and then only Mt dis
lance. 80 he Is In new and strang'
world. The hrst day or two he will
he rest Of his class will go over al
pirplane infinitely and learn the gen
eral makeup Of an airplane. Soon h
win know the difference between ,
wing and fuselage and how the vari
GUS WIRES are stretched when the ma
chine II In flight Then he will learI
how to take the airplane apart ant
how to reassemble and realign II, an,