The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-12-18

are the plots ana 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 exaggerati0n to say
that there were no more than one
thOusandth of the mechanics needed to
make the repairs necessary to keep a
great air feet in the air. To take from
the airplane Industries the few me-
chanics who did know airplane work
would have been simply ease Of "rob-
bing Peter to pay Paul." inasmuch as
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 Mt 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, 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. The trades taught
are the following:
Airplane mechanicians, 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
ut the front is something like this: He
Is 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 a possible motor mechant-
clan, an airplane mechaniclan (air-
plane mechanicians do the rigging of
all airplunes), a fabric worker, an cleo
trician, or any one Of the trades which
are required. The trade test board
uses 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 or
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 is
assigned to his squadron ut the school
and to his cot and Is made thorough
II comfortable. The next day. In all
probability, his real work will begin
when he ID assigned to his class In
whatever trade he IL to be trained.
The largest number Of mechanics re-
Quired In sQuadrons are riggers, 80 the
typical case In mind. win probably he
q rigger. This man has probably
never seen an airplane except at the
country circus. and then only at dis
lance. SO he Is In new and strange
world. The first day or two he with
he rest Of his class will 60 over an
pirplane infinitely and learn the gen.
eral makeup Of m airplane. Soon he
viii know the difference between a
wing and a fuselage and how the vari-
Gus WIRES are stretched when the ma
chine Is In flight. Then he viii learn
how to take the airplane apart and
how to reassemble and realiRn II. and