The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-01-18
For Months American Apanes Here and in Europe Have Been
Equipped With Apparatus by Which Their Movements Were
Directed by Voice Comma nd-Hardest Tests Fail to
Impair Its Complete Efficiency.

tain. The roar of the motor and 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 it's 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.
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
G.. Norton, a lawyer, and the writer.
Lieut.. Hudson r. Scoring took the air
in 4 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 wire with a small wire
less plant built on the field. Lieuten-
ant Scoring had receiver in his he'll
met but no transnitter, so he had
been instructed to indicate "yes" by
a slight forward tip of his machine,
and mo" by waving his plane from
side to side, much the same as a boat
rocking in the water.
When Scoring was $500 feetoin the
air and perhaps half mile from
where the party was standing Colonel
Culver, speaking into the stranSmitter
In tone only slightly above normal.
said
Can you hear me, Seering?"
Instantly the machine took for
ward dip.
DO you hear me clearly?" asked
Colonel Culver.
The machine took another forward
dip.
Are you cold?" was the next Ques-
ton.
The machine instantly began rock
ing from side to side.
swell, climb bit higher" ordered
Colonel Culver.
Without a second Of delay Lieuten-
ant Scoring started up.
That's high enough" said Colonel
Culver.
The machine f1attened out.
Then followed q bewildering series
Of stunts" each in response to
vocal order from the ground, the flyer
doing nothing on his own initiative.
During Lieutenant Seering's flight he
ranged from $500 feet to $500 feet
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 so
remarkable that it threw into the
shade the test made with Lieutenant
Scoring, astonishing as that seemed
at the time. Nineteen battle planes,
the swiftest of the De Hnvilands,
equipped with Liberty motors. took
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 a transmitter equipment.
This air fleet shot off into the south
at speed of 40 miles an hour. but
soon returned in V formation. Major
Rossell flying higher and well behind
his squadron. Passing over Roosevelt