The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-02


Upward Flight, Then Instructor Took
Charge-says Scene Was One of In
describable Beauty.
.CTRTISS AVIATION SCHOOL,
MIAMI, Fla,
Jan. %, 1915
Editor OF The Reformer:--
\ few weeks ago, such a thing as
looping seemed something
vague and distant and only possible of
realization in some t9r-off future. This
afternoon, however, | had that sensa-
ton and ii certainly was interesting
Ny instructor, Joe Bennett, told me
several days ago that he would give me
a loop any time ! wanted one Today
! asked him, DO YOU feel like a loop
'his afterncon?' AS ! climbed into
the cockpit later on he said, "Do YOU
want to do that meaning the loop -
and said "Sure.
We opened the throttle wide and Joe
let me take the machine off the ground
and si4allcd for me to climb as steep
~ as possible. Soon the ground was
far below Up and mp and still up we
went, making our climb in gradual
turns The san was Just setting in a
large red bail Of fire. When we reached
1000 feet altitude, | realized that to
th" fellows on the ground, the sun had
actually set, but we were following the
san ur and getting succession of sun
SETS as it were.
Joe had explained to ne very care
FULLY the methods to be followed in
making the loop. As we passed 5000
feet ! could see Joe pecring over the
side and trying TO locate the other ma
chimes which were living about far be
low. Meanwhile, couldn I help drink
ing the bcaut. of the scene. I could
~r" the canal which goes to Lake Okee-
rhoher extending like a ribbon Of white
way off into the distance. To the north
of this ] could see fire: evidently.
someou" was burning up brush or grass
.aut To the west hundreds of little
lakes reflected the fast fading Hght
and 20 the east the city Of Miami Law
outsprcad. Below, the earth seemed
u '+-'- !. 4a!s...,4..
different shades of brown and the Cur
tlsr oerotromc seemed but five small
Iat..
Beyond the city. could be seen the
blue water of Bay Bjscavuc and / could
distinctly see the road which leads out
into the bay and across TO Miami
Beach. Further ont into the hav, the
Key. showed mp as they stretched their
wa out into the ocean. Out over the
water was a low bank Of clouds bathad
in crlasou light. The moon was al.
ready high above the water and the
whole effect was one Of indescrihable
,cautv
II is a bit hard at first 10 notice
things below when you are running
the plane, because if your attention
wandcrs, YOU find it is climbing at too
steep an angle OF not steep enough or
else one wing is dropping too low. So
tar, ! had had the controls all to nv
self Realizing we were getting about
high enough, | gave my safety belt
tug TO be sure the catch was secure
II fastened. When we were I'D about
$500 feet, Joe gave me the signal
- down and we shot down at fairly
steep angle at a terrific speed Then
felt the elevator controls come back
and we began to 90 up. ! felt decid-
ed pressure pulling me down and for.
ward and still we kept going on around.
Finally | could see the earth coming
up once more. ] had no more realized
that we were level again when up we
shot and looped again. l had not
counted on two loops in succession.
After a few minutes we made one more
loop and then started on our long glide
/ back to earth.
On our way down, Joe made couple
! of vertical spirals. 1t seemed as if we
| were promoting on the point Of one
/ wing. In one Of these vertical banks.
| | find il is extremely hard TO determine
/ where in the world the horizon is or
| just where tou are anyway After this
/ W" zummed. BY cumming | mean
rolling on through the air as if on a
1 roller coaster. If it is not done too
/ quickly up and down it gives delight
full sensation.
At this point Joe signalled for me to
| take the machine back to earth and
we headed toward our home field. Aft.
| or long volPlane we glided in on 70
the field just at dusk. | assure Won /
I had had thrills enough for one after.
noon
Please do not think that we were
doing these alleged stunts just for the
! fun Of the thing. In the first place.
they are not really stunts but ma
noeuyers it is well to know and ones
which have proven 70 be Of great mill
4 tary value.
l know that lots Of the fellows have
had more exciting experiences than this,
but 1 thought il might be interesting
to hear more specifically the sensations
felt in one 5 first loop-the-loop
L 4