Americus times-recorder., 1919-02-26
SOUTHER FIELD
FLYERS TRYING
TEST LANDINGS

II
Ployd A. Wilson, one of the best flyers
at Souther Field says, "One of the es>
sentials of aviation is getting the ship
back to terra firma without injury to
the ship and the occupants" This is
small trouble on such field as Sou
ther. but when it comes to forced
landings in small fields, surrounded
by trees and fences, it is matter of
accurate Judgment and ability to be
able to pick out the spot in the part
of the field that you desire to land
and then land on this spot.
To do this from, say, an elevation of
5000 feet with a ship that is making
80 miles per hour when it nears the
ground and will continue to roll for
300 yards after it's wheels are on the
ground, requires unerring judgment.
AS a result, white circle ten feet in
diameter has appeared on the field at
Souther, and it is the object of the
pilot to come to a stop when he is over
this circle. This is one of the tests
necessary for flyer to pass before OBJ
tanning his R. M. A, but after the R.
H. A. is attained and big, comfortable
fields like Souther are at the flyers
disposal he is apt to grow careless, as
he has plenty of field to take advant-
age of.
A feature now is formation flying
engaged in by the pilot sof the field.
This keeps the flyer on edge all the
time he is in the air keeping his ship
just fifty yards away from the ship in
front of him and flying eSchelon, CIV
ing the appearance from the ground
that the wings are overlapping, get
ting no closer and no further away,
against him. Monday the first pilots
up to engage information were Lieut..
Floyd A. Wilson Lieut.. Paul Peik and
Lieut.. Wilfred Warde. Lieut.. Vance
was up in the DeHaviland and making
rings around the formation. due to
his superior speed. The appearance
was that of a mother bird watching
over her brood in flight.
Lieut.. Blackles took up as a passen-
ger visiting sailor, who had just
been discharged from the service at
the sub base at New London, Conn. He
is an Americas boy, Lorin B. Smith.
His experience was one of sea sick
ness while in the air and for a short
while after returning to the ground.
Major Butts relieved Lieut.. Vance
at the stick of the DeHaviland and
gave an exhibition of advanced flying.
Colonel Dickman had his own ship
warmed up and then took to the air.
The colonel carries the rating of junior
military aviator and ranks with the
skiIlful and conservative flyers. The
air was smooth and flying much en-
joyed.
Lieut.. Sutter and Sergeant Major
James Davies took advantage of the
day and went up together, Lieut.. Sut-
ter plotting.
Lieut.. McMullen ana Lieut. Lackey
participated in the flying, Lieut.
Lackey taking up as a passenger
Chauf. 1st Glass Roland Enos, of the
transportation department.
A prominent visitor at the field yes
terday was F. C. Sheriff., of the post
master generals department, who wit
messed the flying and exclaimed: 81
have seen some very remarkable fly
ing, but the flying at Souther Field is
certainly in the hands of expert pilots.
1t seemed uke old times at Souther
with about seven ships in the air cut
ting capers, and Lieut.. Dave Suttle, the
boss of the ships, was also getting hi!
share of the flying.