Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-20
MECHANICS MAKE
ACES EFFECTIVE
Much Depends Upon the Equip
ment of Airplanes in
War Time.
leach MEN TRICKS OF TRADE
graphic Story of Training Al,
Student Passes Through
in Army.
TEACH MEN TRICKS OF TRADE

,s NEW YORK. October 1o.--1t has Of
, ION neen stated that mechanics are
iow necessary to the efficient work
IL ,ba o inc ar service battle squadrons
% , observers themselves. This state
NOT a, "a All u perhaps little broad is
giech,anics the pilots wings would soon
&c clipped. and there would he few, II
aay; ships available with which they
could take the air
I'm, men THIS country entered the pres
snI conflict 1t is no exaggeration to
cay that there were no more than one
no OF the mechanics needed
great gre w ai9 n WI be needed to keep our
She airpiane industries the few me.
w,,,,iS VINO did know airplane work
bing peter ea nee ma, SIMPLY case Of rob.
n Italy necessary for production. 4
In this country. and that indu ss is IS
organized under the name of Air Ser
vice Mechanics Schools"
There are two such schools in opera
, other at Kelly Field. South san An.
ttnio, Tex. These schools are in effect
aif foG1les me product being high grade
teriai from which they arc made. ga
rage men, carpenters. blacksmiths
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 fighting at the front
me trades taught arc the following:
Airpane mechanicians bIacksniths
cabinet makers. carpenters. cnauneurs
ctppersmiths. electricians. fabric work
{. instrument repairmen. magnetic re-
y rmen. metal workers, motorcycl!sts
motor mechanicians. propeller makers
vulcanizers. welders
students life from the moment OF
entering the air service 10 the time
when ne finds himself a competent air
plane mechanic in service squadron
al the front is something like this
lie is frst indicted or drafted. assigned
TO the air service and ordered to one
OF the mechanics schools. Upon his
arrival he Is trade-tested by teen,
nlcal board formed for that purpose.
and classified Il possible motor
nechanician. an airplane mechanician
tairpiane mechanicians do the rigging
oil all airplanes). - fabric worker, an
electrician. or any one of the trades
which are required The tradc-tcst
board board uses uses mans pas, record as a
ability. II he has been a CARA man
and has specialized on the upkecp OF
ss VIII Re has be raGa
or less on magnetic work. he will prob
ally be trained on ignition. with par
mechanism. the Liberty ignition sys-
TRADE TEST FINISHED, MAN
Is ASSIGNED TO SQUADRON
The trade test finished, the man is
assigned to his squadron at the school
and TO his cot and is made thoroughly
comfortable. The next day. in all prob
ability, his real work Will begin when
hs Is assigned to his class In whatever
trade he is TO be trained. The largest
number OF mechanics required in squad
rons are rigSers. so the typical case
in mind will probably be a riggcr This
man has probably never seen an air
plane except AT the country circus. and
then only at distance. SO he is in
new and strange world. The hrst day
or two he. with the rest of his class
will go over an airplane infinitely and
learn the general makeup of An air
plane. Soon ne will know the difference
between wing and fuselage and
how the various wires are stretched
when the machine is in Hight. Then
apart and how to reassemble and re-
align 1t. and he will learn that the
alignment of n plane is one of the most
important things about his work. BY
tools to use in working about an air
plano and what tools not TO use; how
make them. He will know what makes
an airplane fly. and. above Pill, he will
have learned that the pilots life is in
the hands of the mechanic, because,
upon the proper and careful rigging OF
an aiyplane depends its air worthness.
He will also learn about propellers;
why. when they rotate in the air. they
10 take care of them and to repair
them Next he will learn something
about the motive power. the heart OF
the airplane, what makes 1t go, and
why.
months Of this work, comes the day to
which all mechanics look forward the
day when the actual field work Of
keeping The ships in the air" begins.
There are, dying officers at each OF the
the purpose of flying the planes which
the mechanics work on, In order that
the fighting service squadrons at the
front may be stimulated, and that the
mechanics may be given their final
training The airplane mechanic is as
signed TO theoretical service squadron,
maintained in connection with the
school, and remains there for two
weeks doing but the work in which he
has been trained. AT o'clock in the
morning all the ships which are to be
down that day (and his will be one of
them) are taken from the hangers and
Ship of our .aechanic is ready, his pilot
comes and gives it brief inspection.
knowing that the mechanic will have
done his duty well, straps rap himself IT, IN,
minute or two, signals that he is ready,
and takes the air After short flight
he aght sn, w is yng Mth oRe Mns
- dnun or some other defect. The trou.
HE is then diagnosed and rem edied. and
the pilot s is aga ynF IN saf aT this
.n.wO WEEKS OF HARD
WORK PRESENTS RESULTS
Two weeks of this work and the me-
chanic will probably have demon
s;rated to his instructors that his
framing is nea msana ME Is n pernaps
The most delicate Of trades. and is
sent out to take his part in the strug-
gie. He will soon find himself at one
OF the flying fields, carrying on the
dSat,es In which he has been trained,
md then in two or three months the
.inng-anticipated day will arrive when
re- will be on n transport bound for
france. In France he. will be as
signed to n service squadron. and soon
wiiI be sent QUITO the front, and there
will commence the real work for which
he has been preparing.
- Although the training at mechanics
schools Is very Intensity great atteno
ton s paid TO Inc heah ane wei are
football teams. a Y. M. G. A. and
hostess house. band, an orchestra
Which gives frequent concerts, and In
addition the services OF theatrical per.