The Holly chieftain., 1919-08-21
AERIAL SCHOOL TO
OPEN HERE OCT. /
Continued From Page y

LILY IOulcS dlC
The following interview publish
ed in the Denver Post when Pilot
Puflea was in Denver last June
will be interesting to Chieftaln
readers at this time:
las q rule, it is easier to teach
married men to become ayiatOrs
than single men When it comes
to women, it doesn't make any
particlar difference The single
girls can operate airplanes as well
as the married ones. And all WO-
men are easier to instruct than
men, because they do just what
you tell them to without asking
questions and arguing the mat
ter"
And George Ruflea knows what
he's talking about. He has been
in the aviation game as airplane
instructor and tester for ten
years, since February, 1909, in
various parts of America. From
the fall of 1914 to July 1916, he was
chief aviator instructor OF the
National School of Aviation of
Mexico, in Mexico City, under the
personal direction of President
CarranZa.
Canuck airplanes.
The married men have better
nerves than the single men, gen.
orally" says Puflea. That is be
cause their living habits are more
regular. They don't come out on
the demonstration field with
blood5Ehot eyes and trembling
hands. Whereas, the single men
STAYS up all hours of the night,
eats irregularly and sometimes
lives for weeks on little more than
nervous energy and excitement,
the married man eats and sleeps
regularly. keeps himself in good
condition and is usually clear eyed
and steady of nerves. Moreover,
the married man doesn't care to
try fOOlhardy stunts while up in
the air for the first time. He is,
willing to follow the instructions
of his pilot to the letter, for he
doesn't care to take unnecessary
risks.
II do not know whether marriage
has anything to do with it or not,
but it is fact that married men
take instruction and carry it out
better than single men"
Puflea declares it is far easier to
teach men and women to drive
afrplanes than automobiles. He
declares it does not require tech
nical skill or mechanical knOwl-
edge to make skillful airplane
pilots. "All that man needs to
become an airplane pilot is COM
mon horse sense" he declares.
Any man or woman of ordinary
intelligence can learn to operate
an airplane in three or four hours.
Any man who an learn to drive an
automobile and who cannot?-
can easily become an expert air.
plane pilot, providing he is not
afraid. So far as that is concerned,
he will soon overcome any squeam-
ishness he may have, for once he
has made flight and experience
ed the thrill of gliding through
the air, he will not think of fear
The war advanced aviation by at
least fifteen years, this intrepid
flier declares. He is of the opinion
that airplane travel will be in uni
versal operation within two or
three years: that airplanes for in
dividual fliers will be so common
two or three years hence that
they will excite no more comment
than automobiles of today; and
that transatlantic airplane service
will be established within three to
five years.
Puflea's experience in aviation
has been widespread and varied
He has operated practically every
type of successful aircraft made
in this country. In the ten years Of
his experience he had but one ac.
cldent, which was not due to any
fault Of his own. He was flying
at an altitude of 5000 feet with q
student who became frightened
and grasped the control and clung
to it SO tightly that Puflea was
poWerless to prevent the machine
from falling. He managed, how
ever. to direct its course into the
tops of some trees, and both he
and the student escaped without
scratch
He holds the official record for
all of South America, having at.
tained a height of 1875 feet in
1915.
From 1919 until 1911 he built and
flew airplanes Of his own design
In the fall Of 1911 he was made in
sstructor for. the Chicago Airplane
sehnoi Mal,Iacturang ~ ai. company: and and
and half OF 1914, he was chief pilot
for the Moisant International
aviators and school Of aviation in
Garden City. Long Island, N. Y.
and Augusta, Ga.
In the fall OF 1914 he was an.
pointed by President Carranza