Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-07
oJhe STUDENT sits
af+in TRAINING PLANE;
the INSTRUCTOR forward
BY A. G.. WEST.

w yHEN the President reviewed
n the United States fleet at
wv Hampton Roads, a few
weeks ago, one of the
most thrilling as well as
one of the most impressive parts of
the entire parade of the mighty grey
hounds of the sea was the escort by
the Nations aircraft past the yacht
of the Chief Executive.
The silver wings of the ''eyes of
the scouting fleet" flashed in the sum
shine as the submarine and destroyer
suuadrons slipped out between the
Virginia Capes, while a dozen mod
ern planes swept down the long deck
of their carrier, the L. S. s. Langley,
with the graceful precision acquired
In the long months at flight training
schools maintained by the Navy and
in subsequent maneuvers or the Bat
tel Fleet Air Squadrons.
A skiilful pilot is not mace III d
dav. or a week or even in year,
and while the call of the air is strong,
only very small percentage OF the
men who respond to 1t are permitted |
TO receive the gold wings that mark
the military or naval aviator OF the
Government service. The increasing
interest in aviation, particularly In
the last few months, since the re-
markable flight of the air mail pilot,
Col. Charles Lindbergh. across the
Atlantic, has, of course, centered the
attention of the general public on the
possibilities of aircraft for business
as well as for social affairs. But the
impetus to the several governmental
agencies, especially to the Army ana
Navy, has been tremendous.
At Hampton Roads, where the ar
station is in the charge OF Comdf.
nnlQ. the Navy
maintains a flight training school that
offers what is known as an "lndoctfl'
nation course" This is given to select
ed groups of young ensigns from the
Scouting and Battle Fleet after they
have had tour of duty at sea, ana
those who pass the required tests and
seem to be promising material for
aviation are then sent down TO Pensa-
cola to take the full course required
of a naval aviator.
This preliminary training, however.
Is of considerable value, in that it
eliminates the unfit at an early mo-
ment. before too much time has been
spent on him. In addition, the
course inducts the students into an
intimate knowledge of what 1t IS all
about, so that on their return to the
fleet they will have better under
standing of aviation generally ana be
better fitted to appreciate the adVan-
,aces and the limitations of air work
when the time comes for them TO Ill
executive positions in later years.
NNE of the chief difficulties in the
path Of aviation in our military
services has been that officers In
the older branches have lacked the
requisite training to command air
sonadrons. from a standpoint of actual
ali. knowledge. Aviation is young
mans game, but it is obviously I'M
practicable for the younger officers TO
i'll positions for which only years OF
discipline and experience can mt
them.
In order to adjust this obvious
drawback. and to have officers IN
command who have actual and not
merely theoretical knowledge OF air.
craft, both the Army and Navy afford
courses in observation, so that the
commander or the captain or 30 TO
80 wears of age is given practical in
formation to the point that he can
land a Dlane in an emergency, as well |
as understand aerial photography, |
bombing, radio, spotting. etc, from a /
ceiling of several thousand feet.
In addition to the training given I
"a the young ensigns of the fleet and |
Ia small groups Of older officers !
li4mDton Roads each summer also Of .
fnrS instruction to some 60 young !,
NON in the Naval Reserve, all of /,
- hom have had at least two years |
.r college. Subsequently,, these stu /
dents are accepted for year at sea |,
v1rn me fleet. IN order TO receive their |
commissions.
Prior 10 entrance at'the fight train !
ing school at Hampton Roads, how !
ever these Reserve men have had A !
preliminary course at one of the several
training units maintained at Squan- !
1um. Mass, Rockaway. Sand Point, !
Wash. and Great Lakes. AS a gen !
oral rule they do not get further train. !
t-y at Pensacola. other than in eX-
,aptional cases or for the 'refresher
course" Of j. days.
The physical examination given all
prospectiVe aViators is as stiff as 1t
has been possible for the scientists
IN make it, With airplanes costing
anywhere from twenty to seventy
thousand dollars each, the loss Of
plane is important. quite aside from
The casualties. or the subsequent eff
FOOT on the morale of the general
'nihljc when he news of disaster is
read in the daily papers.
Thus the fight surgeons Of this
,nnG other ma ions have At least one ,
ambition in common. 10 discover de-
'fects in a candidate before he has a