Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-06-14

fore it is sent from the factory. Still, they admit
that a machine damaged might possibly slip
through without discovery. But they do not be-
lieye that, up to the present time any such
damaged machine has been sent to an American
flying field.
And for the possibility of a German agent
doing any monkey business" with an airplane
after it is received by flying field, they scott
without mercy at the mere suggestion. They do
not deny the possibility of spies being present on
any all the flying fields but they do not be-
lfeve that the most astute and malignant German
agent could put anything over" in the hangers
which house their steeds of the air.
In charge of each hangar is an officer whose
duty it is TO know all about each machine in it,
what happens to each one where 1t is at any mo-
ment and what its condition is whenever it IS
in the hangar. Three mechanics are detailed 10
each machine to keep it in order and groomed
for use whenever it may be needed. The flying
men are confident that sabotage could be sue
cessfuIly attempted under these conditions except
by means of organization so large and so
unlikely in flying field forces that its possibility
is not worth considering. In addition, no man
ever takes a plane up from a flying field without
himself first carefully inspecting its machinery.
The aviators are so confident that the fault does
notelie in the planes that when they are discuss
ing the cause of accidents they do not even men
ton the planes their machinery, unless they
are questioned. by an outsider. They confine
their discussions to the human factor involved
and speculate upon why his nerves or his muscle,
his heart or his BRAIN failed him at crucial
moment.
The percentage of losses among student avia-
tors is much larger at Canadian than at the
American training schools. while the number OF
fatal accidents at the Canadian field at Fort
Worth, Tex is appalling. That field has suf-
fered more casualties than all the other fields to-
gether in Texas The aviators of the American
iDin fats
there are mainly due TO haste and carelessness in
training.
At the American fields a man must have had
from four to nine hours of training in the air
with an instructor the time depending on his
quickness in learning control before he is allowed
to take up machine by himself.
tail spin" one of the causes of accidents
most commonly cited is an acrobatic stunt which
an aviator must know how to execute with skill
and ease In ii he noses his machine downward
with its tail whirling in circle above him, While
ITS nose whirls in similar but smaller circle
beneath him. and he. in the pilots seat. is the
pivot of the two gyrations. To the landsman IL
sounds heady sort of combination, and 1t is
likely TO prove so 10 the airman unless he has the
and the skill with which TO manage IT.
To throw his machine in and out of tail spins Is
mart of his daily practice after he begins the
acrobatic training and in a very little while ne
ACQUIRES sufficient knowledge OF what TO do anu
control or the machinery 10 eNeCute
tail spins as easily and safely as he could twiri
m his toes or turn his heel If his feet were on
solid ground
But he may ger into tail spin accidentally In
his early flights alone and. although he may
know what is the right thing TO do TO take the
machine out Of IT, he may lose his head at the
,rncial moment and fail 10 do what he ought
Every man. woman or child who has learned TO
idle = bicvcle or drive automobile is familiar
with that unconscious influence of the mind over
he muscles which causes one who has not yet
occurred complete command of a machine 10
rive straight at the object which he wishes and
: doing his best to avoid The aviator has brief
jue in his training when he suffers from that
anne difficulty and at important moments Is
prone 10 give the wrong pressure upon his con-
rol stick or his elevator Ii he does this when
lis machine goes into tail spin and his mind
oes not WORK quickly enough TO recognize his,
hficulty and do the right thing, fatal accident
5 very likely TO result
Dizziness. sudden panic failure TO think quick
:. unconscious movement. ignorance Of what TO
10, may cause fatal accident when learner