Evening star., 1927-10-17
Flying With Gen. Patrick
BY MAI. GEN. Nj. nj. PATRICK,
Chief of the Army Air Corps.
Bringing the Plane to Earth.

Before the completion of the pilots
repertoire of aerial acrobatics the pas
senger is likely to experience, unless
he is a particularly good sailor, sensa-
tions closely akin to those OF seaslcK-
ness. This being his first flight. ne
nrobablv will welcome the time when
the pilot throttles his engine and be-
gins a gentle glide earthward.
The tachometer now registers the
minimum number of revolutions per
minute, indicating that the power
plant is contributing very little, IL
any, to the forward motion OF the
plane. Yet, as has been previously
observed, it is necessary to maintain
a certain forward speed in order to
keep the plane under control and pre-
vent a stall which eventually will re-
suit in a tail spin. By pointing the
nose of the plane downward at a suffi-
coent angle, the force of gravity pro-
vides the power to maintain this
necessary speed.
The minimum angle at which this
result may be obtained is known as
the gliding angle" and varies ac.
cording to the design and weight OF
the plane. For the average plane the
gliding ratio is about seven to one;
that is, for each unit of altitude lost
in the descent the plane will travel
forward seven time that unit. For ex-
ample, if the plane is at an altitude OF
5 1000 feet, the pilot may stop his en-
CINE completely at a distance of ap-
proximately seven niles from his
landing field and maneuver to a safe
landing in that field without the aid
of his power plant.
Removes Much of Danger.
This fact removes much of the dan
ger of a forced landing due to possible
engine failure. All that is necessary
is an open field, sufficiently large and
smooth within the gliding limit of the
plane. From the foregoing it is read
lily apparent that the greater the alti-
tude at which the plane is flying the
greater are the chances of making a
safe landing in event of engine failure.
AS the plane descends there is a
noticeable change in the temperature
Of the atmosphere. Meteorologists
have ascertained that after the first
thousand feet the temperature drops
approximately l degree Fahrenheit
for each thousand feet of ascent, and,
naturally, the reverse is true in de-
scending.
The sensation of descending in a
gentle glide is a decidedly pleasant
one, and provides a pleasant relief
from the roar of the engine and the
blast of air thrown back by the pro-
peller when revolving rapidly, as it is
required to do in horizontal flight.
Many Ways to Lose Altitude.
There are many ways of losing alti-
tude while maneuvering for quick
landing. One is the tail spin: another
is the side SliD in which maneuVer
the plane Is tilted in such manner as
to slip sideways toward the earth.
The simplest, although not the quick
est method, is the spiral" in which
the plane winds its way to earth as
| though descending an invisible spiral
| stairway.
In any case, the last few feet OF
| flight are over straight course into
| the field. AS the plane nears the
ground the pilot eases his stick back
ward raising the nose and thereby
| decreasing the speed. If 1t is O. per
| feet landing, the wheels and tailskid
will meet the ground gently and at
| the same time. The. plane then rolls
along the ground gently until its mo-
mentum Is expended: The pilot taxis
it to it's hangar, and the flight is over
The take-off 1t will be remembered
attain flying speed as'quickly as posi-
BILE. To effect landing in the shortest
possible distance, this also is made
into the wind. The well trained pilot
has developed such feel of his plane
and Judgment of distances that he is
able to land his craft with surprising
accuracy.
(copyright 1927