The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-08-24
RECRUITS FACE
/. AIR EDUCATION
! IN ALL PHASES
Accredited Pilots Less Likely
to Have Wrecks Than I'm.
Licensed
FEDERAL LAWS GOVERN
Examinations Bring Out Mans
Ability to Keep Cool In
Emergency
FEDERAL LAWS GOVERN

EDITORS NOTE: This is the
fourth of q series of articles in
which Captain Malcolm J. Bu-
chsnan, writer for The Tribune
and NEA Service. explains the
use of the airplane and how to
operate il. Buchanan was a
pilot with the L. s. Army AIR
Corps on the Western front dur
ing the World War and is now
on the editorial staff of the RI.
Worth (Tex.) Press.
By CAPT. MALCOLM BUCHANAN
What a flyer MUST know and
what he SHOULD know are differ
ent things. He should know how TO
design and build plane; design and
build an engine; astronomy: meteor
ology; mathematics: aerodyramics:
aerostatics: naviga -.cn and geo.
graphy to an extent that he will
know the exact location Of every
town within his cruising radius.
There are certain requirements
essential in a flyer. Some d. not
possess these. hence they are not
being given pilots certificates by
the L. S. Department of Commerce.
It is these pilots who are having
the fatal crashes. | do not mean
to say that accredited pilots never
Ges into trouble; they do. But those
Who have passed the Commerce De-
partment tests ere less likely to do
SO.
Coordination
The demands upon the mental
and physical abilities Of the avia-
tor are such that he should have
immediate coordination of thought
and muscle. His eyes should be in
excellent condition; he should be able
70 stand great strain, keep cool in
emergencies and not lose his head
regardless Of what may happen; he
xnould be ready to take a chance
when necessary.
Almost all Of our red-blooded
boys of today have these require
ments. The failure of an aspirant
to make good pilot usually can be
traced to poor care of the mental or
physical self.
The man at the controls must
have q complete knowledge of the
planes actions under any condition
and instruments in the cockpit. If
these devices fail the pilot must de-
fermine the trouble by a "sense of
FEEL" knowledge cf his craft
means everything.
A good flyer never will take off
without checking his plane and test
ing the controls. Acquainting one
self with certain plane requires
much time.
A pilot should be able to read a
nap and locate his position by the
corresponding area on the ground.
Il he cannot this he had best not
attempt cross-country flights of any
length.
The commercial flyer must have
knowledge of the Always and traf-
fic rules of the Department of Com
merce. These are covered by feder.
al laws and the pilot is subject ia
forfeiture of his certificate if they
are violated. The laws having to
do with signals of the air and state
laws must be known to cross-coun-
try aviators.
Aerial training is generally looked
upon as merely learning to pilot an
airplane, an operation that requires
only about 10 hours of actual study,
but the time required to train the
army or navy pilot is approximately
316 flying hours for primary train
ing and 1875 hours on the advanced
side. This is side from time taken
up in the study Of acronautics.
The army allots six months each
to the primary and advanced courses
while some so-called flying schools
guarantee" to turn out an expert
pilot in two months. Something OF
. difference there.
The training of the military pilot
includes:
The theory of flight, Fundamental al
principles Of aerodynamics and oper-
alton Of planes.
Elementary electricity, radio cir.
cults, general radio equipment used
BY the air corps.
..Meteorology. including a study
qf winds, weather and weather fore
east.
Aerial navigation, including navi.
eation instruments, aerial maps
fgur3e and distance calculation. and
astronomy.
Machine guns.
Various plane types and motor in.
efruments.
: The theory Of internal combustion
motors including actual shop work
~ approved motors.
Rigging, upkeep and minor re.
P6irs.
Photography.
One part Of the flyers day i,
used for these studies while thu
remainder is taken up with actua
flying. The only bit Of the afore
mentioned training that is not es
s<ntial to the commercial flyer i.
machine gun instruction.
- Testing Recruits
when entering the air corps ever,
8ying aspirant is forced to stant
a exceedingly rigid physical ex
Epination. Every part Of the bod,
noost Be sound and special attention
4.sgiven to the eyes and ears, To-
Tie sense Of balance is in the ear
Md with impaired eyesight I mai
should make no attempt to fly.
The recruit il required to picl
eolors from : chart until he cal
Ardly distinguish black from white
II = forced to hop around on frs
~ leg and then the other u0til b.
1oars the point Of exhaustion.
/ !. Usually tho next ordeol schedules
- wishing chair ii which the re