Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1918-12-24
For Months American Apanes Here and Europe Have Been
Equipped With Apparatus by Which Their Movements Were
Directed by Voice Comma nd-Hardest Tests Fail to
Impair Its Complete Efficiency.

lhln. Inc roar or the motor ana the
whir of the propellers have no effect
whatever on his power of clear trans
mission or on the ability of his men
to receive his words.
The tremendous value of the inven-
ton which Colonel Culver and those
associated with him have brought to
perfection, is not easily understand
able by civilians. But through its OPP
erations 1t Is now possible to send
students Into the air alone and d.
rect their daily drill from the ground,
thus eliminating the necessity of en-
dangering experienced pilots, who, as
instructors, have hitherto been obliged
to go up In the air with their pupils.
1t also is now possible to train avia-
tors In advanced flying the instructor
on the ground being able to see the
work of his student and instantly cor
rect his faults. In training and d.
recting pilot gunners and bombing
pilots the wireless telephone also is
of inestimable value.
The tests of the new invention were
conducted In the presence of General
Kenly, Colonel Culver, Col. Willard f.
Harmon, Jr., commander of the first
provisional wing; Maj. Ralph Cousins,
commander of Roosevelt field George
@. Norton, a lawyer, and the writer.
Lieut.. Hudson r. Scoring took the air
In De Haviland at Hazelhurst field,
at an order from General Kenly.
Looks Like Ordinary Transmitter.
Colonel Culver took what looked to
be an ordinary telephone transmitter
in his hand. This transmitter was
connected by a wire with small wire
less plant built on the field. Lieuten-
ant Scoring had a receiver in his he'll
met but no transmitter, so he had
been instructed to indicate yes" by
slight forward tip of his machine,
and mo" by waving his plane from
rocking in the water.
When Scoring was $500 feet In the
air and perhaps half q mile from
where the party was standing Colonel
Culver speaking into the transmitter
In tone only slightly above normal,
said
Can you hear me, Seering?"
Instantly the machine took a for
ward dip.
do you hear me clearly?' asked
Colonel Culver.
The machine took another forward
dip.
Are you coldT' was the next ques-
ton.
The machine instantly began rock
ing from side to side.
"Well, climb a bit higher" ordered
Colonel Culver.
Without a second of delay Lieuten-
ant Scoring started up.
That's high enough" said Colonel
Culver.
The machine flattened out.
Then followed a bewilderlng series
of Stunts" each In response to q
vocal order from the ground. the flyer
doing nothing on his own initiative,
During Lieutenant Seering's flight, he
idhSCQ liOAn -iOOO ltCl W OIOOO lOtl
altitude. At no time was he more
than three miles from where General
Kenly and Colonel Culver stood
Neither his altitude nor his distance
from the transmitter, however. affect
ed his ability to hear whatever was
said to him.
From Hazlehurst field General Ken
ly took his party to Roosevelt field
where the performance given was Sc
remarkable that 1t threw into the
shade the test made with Lieutenant
Seering astonishing as that seemed
at the time. Nineteen battle planes
the swiftest of the De Havilands
equipped with Liberty motors. tool
the air at once. They were command
ed by Maj. Joseph e. Rossell, acting
as squadron. commander. Eighteen Of
the pilots were equipped with receiv
ing apparatus. Major Rossell alone
had transmitter equipment.
This air fleet shot off into the soutf
at a speed of 100 miles an hour, bu
soon returned in v formation. Majol
Rossell flying higher and well behint
his squadron. Passing over Roosevelt