The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-03-10
AN A|RP[ANE IS AS
SAFE AS ITS PILOT

some lew Gays ago IN an alrplane ac-
cident, has brought public attention
to this mode of travel, and whether
the accident was due to the fault of
the pilot or the machine. The follow
ing article is written by ]. Z. Whit
more, veteran pilot of the European
war and who speaks from experience
He gives the story Of near accident
In which he was pilot. which shows
that had the plane crashed 1t would
have been said that the accident was
due to a defective plane, whereas 1t
was due to the pilot. Here is the
story:
Having spent twenty-seven months
on the largest flying field in the
country. an aeroplane accident does
not bother me any more than an
automobile accident would. But a
newspaper statement of the facts of
an aeroplane accident revives war
time" memories in my mind.
We used to keep the public from
seeing or hearing about such acci-
dents as far as possible But now and
then a plane would crash in the main
street or near town, which seemed
to necessitate that the newspapers
put out an extra giving all the So
called facts pertaining to the acct
dent. The German spies were among
the men on the flying field, that the
government should be more strict
in recruiting men for this branch of
the service and thus eliminate all this
waste of precious human life and ma.
chimes.
The facts were that every man on
the field was conscientious about his
work and loyalty American. We were
receiving new planes as fast as they
could be built. Everything possible
being done to prevent accidents. Ev-
cry pilot was required to inspect ev-
cry part of his machine before leav-
ing the ground. and the planes were
always tested by at least two men.
each an expert In his line. Even
then 1t kept two ambulances and two
hospital planes busy all day long.
Orville Wright, the foremost au-
thority on aeroplanes in the world,
says An aeroplane is as safe as its
pilot"
have been In two minor crashes
myself and Witnessed about forty-six
fatal smashups. In no case has any
one been able to lay the blame d.
rectly on workmanship or to the di-
rect failing of any part of the ship.
Some would say "air pockets" others.
the pilot was stunning too near the
ground. The best judgment seemed to
be the latter.
Here's an instance I experienced
myself. We were put on recruiting
duty after the Armistice was signed
and on July 3, 1919, was sent to
Mangum. Oklahoma, in JN4HD
plane. equipped with Hispano Suisa
motor. This motor. according to the
log book had in over 300 flying hours
and the plane itself had survived
three previous motors of about 100
hours each. So that the plane must
have had 600 hours In the air and
travelled probably $4,000 miles and
she sure looked like death trap" oil
Flaming coffin" as some were wont
to term aeroplanes. We called II
worse than that.
The trip to Mangum was $50 miles
on the map and our time was houl
and SO minutes, which we could cas-.
lily have made in thirty minutes less
but for flying around couple Of rair
storms and bucking a strong wind
while doing 80.
On the "4th" after taking op few
prominent citizens, we went up Il
do a few stunts" We general!
reached an altitude of 1000 feet Of
over before doing any real stunts. bu
this day we went up 5000 feet. W.
went through the most difficult ma
neuvors, down to an altitude Of 200
feet. Then something went wroni
when we were in a tight spiral" tn
10Y stick" was froze and immovable
When l started to give the opposit
rudder with the leg that l had beef
resting I found that my pants wer
caught in the cable and pully beneatl
the seat It was . "daul plane" an