The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1918-03-07
AN AvIAToR's EXPERIENCE


In the February number of "Sun-
set" is very interesting narrative
of the experiences of an American
who has been in the great war from
the start. He knew a little about
flying machines and tried to get into
the British Royal Flying Corps but
failed. He then Joined the French
army hoping for chance in the air
but had to be content with service
in the trenches. He saw trench war;
fare at its worst and about February
1915 learned that he could then join
the English army. He applied for ad-
mission to the Royal Flying Corps
and we reproduce a portion of his
story to show the nerve some men
have when they get in pinch:
1t was not long before l was sum-
moned before the colonel in COM
mand, and was asked just what line
of work was best suited for. had
had only twenty brief lessons, but
lied beautifully and told him what a
splendid "flier" l was, and how 1
lost out" in that respect in the
French army. When he asked me
if l had ever flown alone, / told him
stirring tales of many hours in the
air and asserted brazenly that / was
considered second best to Lincoln
Beachey in the States. was so anx-
ious to fly that l guess l overdid it
little.
That afternoon l was told to report
to the Colonel in person on the flying
field, which l did. / was tingling
with excitement as to what the out
come of the meeting would be and he
swept me off my feet by pointing to
that large Maurice Farman biplane,
nicknamed the "long-horn" on ac-
count of two extended projections at
the head, and telling me to make a
circuit of the field in it, adding that
he personally would pass judgment
as to whether or not / was fit to con-
tinue to fly.
Then it was that my knees almost
gave way. was more frightened
than l ever was in the trenches, but
decided to be game and go through
with it.
The controls were totally different
from the old Hammondsport Curtiss,
and on this type the steering was
done with the feet, while on the Cur
tiss it was executed with the wheel.
However, l climbed into the seat and
a mechanic, bless him! hastily ex-
planned the controls to me. Above
all, he told me not to "stall" the ma
chine. This could be avoided, he
told me by not letting the red liquid
in the "pilot" tube, or speedometer,
get below forty miles per hour. This
instrument resembles thermometer,
and the faster you go the higher the
liquid climbs in the tube.
We finally got the engine started
and sailed bravely off, keeping my
eyes glued to that tube! Finally
when / did get nerve enough to look
over the side, / was about 1900 feet
in the air, and flying with my right
wing down. / corrected the planes
position laboriously and then discov-
cred had lost the aerodome! No
where could / see it. After a long
fiat turn I happened to look directly
down and there it was straight under
meath me. Then came the question
of how to get down to it. had never
been up so high before, and did not
know how to spiral, so I had to go
away off and make long straight
glide for it, Needless to say, over
shot the mark, and just did switch
off in time to avoid hitting shed
and also friend Colonel.
I shakily dismounted, pulled my
self together and saluted. He wanted
to know what the devil ] meant by
staying up so long. l replied
that enjoyed the flight so much that
| forgot that time was slipping by
so quickly. He then asked me why
l came down so steeply and I told
him we always did that in America.
Suddenly he turned to me and said
that he thought / would do and that
he could use me as an instructor. He