Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-06-05
Novel Machine Puts Novice
Through Stunts Wifh-
out Peril.
Tests Fitness FOR AVIATION
Ruggles Orientator Will Enable Civil
ians as Well as Soldiers to Deter
mine Whether They Are Fit for
Flying-Does for Beginning Aviator
About What Walking Chair Does
for an Infant Learning to Toddle.

A machine that enables you to eXpe-
rience all the physical sensations of
flying and to test your fitness for avia-
ton without once losing your hold
upon the earth has just been adopted
by the war department for use in
training its pilots, writes Frederic j..
Haskin in Chicago Daily News. 1t
Is probable that this device, known
MS the Ruggles Orientator, will be a
feature of all flying schools and will
enable civilians as well as soldiers to
determine without risking their lives
whether they are fit for flying.
The Ruggles machine does for the
beginning aviator about what walk
ing chair does for an infant learning
to toddle-it enables him to go through
the motions without risking a tumble.
One of these orientators was Off
cially demonstrated in Washington, d.
c., the other day. The machine con-
Ssts. of two sets of steel rings, the
largest one of which is - feet in
diameter. One ring revolves In the
perpendicular plane. The rings are
driven by small motors so that they
revolve within each other. The boat
in which the pupil sits is suspended
from the inner ring and its move
ments may be controlled by either set
of rings. The motors which control
the boat may be operated from with
in by the pupil or from the outside
by the instructor.
"Dips, GIides and voIplanes."
The prospective pilot seats himself
in the boat while the instructor sits,
with his hand on the control, along
side the machine. The instructor can
put his pupil through all the motions
of machine in the air by operating
the controls, which are connected to
the machine by means of wire bat
teries. After several demonstrations
of looping the loop, dipping, gliding
and volplaning, the pupil is permit
ted to operate the machine by the
controls in the boat. The test is
even mere severe than that of actual
flying. If the neophyte has anything
the matter with his heart, nerves or
stomach which will disqualify him for
flying the orientator will bring the fact
out at once.
This new mechanical device is to be
introduced into the course of training
at the various flying fields and will
completely revolutiOniZe the wartime
system of training aviatOrs. The Rug
giles machine fills the gap between the
ground school and actual flying, thus
giving the cadet the "feel of the ship"
on the ground before going into the
air. Army officers say that the num-
ber Of casualties among cadets In train
ing is certain to be greatly reduced by
the use of the machine, as will the sub
sequent destruction Of equipment.
The orientator will not teach man
actually to fly, but it will undoubtedly
be of great assistance to the embryo
flyer by developing his senses for fly
ing. 1t will also make the task of his
instructor easier and less dangerous.
"Freezing" of the Controls.
Records show that some of the best
pilots in the air service have been
killed while instructing. In most cases
the crashes were not due to defects
In the planes. The most plausible
theory In most cases Is that the cadet