The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-18
4OO-Mile Speed In Air Is Foreseen
 But Science Must Aid, Say Experts

[ speed while making the turns, as one does in a race. Furthermore, Gen. eral Mitchell was trained to his job. for he had flown almost daily for many years. Otherwise fast flying would have been dangerous for him.
 Physically, Lieutenants Williams and Brow offer an interesting com parison. Williams has an unusually powerful physique and weighs more than 200 pounds. Brow is rather slight of build. Yet they experience the same sensations flying, though due to his lighter weight, Brow does not undergo the extreme sensation of losing consciousness momentarily while making short turns in the races.
 Rigid Concentration Necessary.
 The moment their motors are started they are subjected to the most rigid concentrations. They have a 500-horse power engine with 12 cylinders. The propeller is twirling 2,300 revolutions minute, and the noise from the exhaust drowns out everything else. This terrific power must be kept under strict control. The machines are only about P feet wide and the narrow, tapering bodies some 19 |. feet long. There is everything to watch-the water in the radiators; the fuel, a 50 per cent mixture of gasoline and benzol; lu- bricating oil, the pressure of which is 100 pounds, or the same as that required for a railroad locomotive. The entire machine loaded weighs about 2,000 pounds. All this the pilot must watch and guard constantly from the moment he takes off until he comes back to earth. Every one of his senses must be on the alert. He uses both hands and both feet. His eyes and ears are strained to the limit, catching every sound that trouble. If he falters for as much as an instant 1t may mean death. All Depends On Machine.
 "Of course, wo do feel some effects from fast flying, but they are hardly Brow. "It all depends upon the ma- chine. I feel no differently flying at 26O than do at 150. I know l should feel the same If I could make 300. After that, there's no telling. l know hundreds of good pilots who can ny the fastest job ever made. It is all matter of training. It was only few years ago that we thought 100 miles 'an hour was fast. Our students were trained on very slow machines until they had been accustomed to all the motions and tricks of the plane ana motor. Of course, one must be physl- cally fit to start with. Then he flles by sense and habit.
 q have never heard of pilot un- dergoing an experience which would indicate that there is limit to the speed which the human body can at tain and live. Of course, there must be a limit; but I do not believe we have approached it. There is a sort of exhilaration in fast flying which laa dS c power under the control of your own hands. l think that the human brain is quite capable of adapting itseir to increased demands. That IS, IT they build faster machines, it means that the brain must act more swlttiy In the emergencies and on the con trols.
 Sheltered From Blasts.
 "The numerous controls and gauges one must watch make fast flying ar duous. The position in which we must sit in the machines tires our bodies and cramps our muscles. We are sheltered by windshields and the construction of the machine itseit from the terrific force exerted py tearing through the air at four ana a half miles a minute. If we put out an arm at this rate we probapiy should have 1t torn off completely.
 
 split and ripped from their heads py being caught in the blast that IS kicked back of the air screw. Ana yet we are able to peer over the sldes and, in fact, all around us.
 Every time newer and better plane Is built you may count on US having contrivances to help the pilot, quicken his senses and make the ma chine more controllable. If you speak of machines much faster than those today, you must take into con sideration that engineering princi- : ples will change, conditions will be radically different-though until they pass the 300 miles an hour mark they need not worry about the effect of speed on the human body. l think that as long as the brain can func- tion reasonably well, both brain and machine can protect the body, no matter how fast it goes"
 O O O
 Flying A Progressive Art.
 Lieutenant Williams said there are many pilots capable of making as long flights as the machines will stand. Of course there are no super latively fast planes today equipped to make long test, though Maugh- ans coast coast flight last sum mer in which he got more than half way across the country, was made in the machine in which he won the 1922 races. He was tired and cramped when he stepped out of his machine;