The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-05

he knew that the field was right
next to the golf links"
We arrived over the town and
after circling a few times, throt-
tied the motor and shouted:
where's the fieId?"
The reply was immediate and full
Of confidence.
Right next to the golf links"
"Well, where are the golf links?"
II don't know"
I was up against another of the
very amusing, equally serious Incl
dents in transforming life. We were
over strange territory on a dark
night and with rapidly diminish
ing fuel supply.
1t was imperative to land within
a very few minutes, yet it was not
possible to tell one field from an
other and even the line fences
we're not visible.
flew around until the. outline of
strawstack appeared in the field
below U.S. This field was outlined
on one side by the lighter color Of
the pasture adjoining it and a num-
Der of trees were discernible along
the end.
There was no way of telling
whether it contained posts or
bitches, but we had no alternative,
and I landed beside the StrawStack
in the center.
A hasty examination of the field
showed it to be suitable for night
flying and we hailed the first car
passing for ride into the town.
We had difficulty in locating our
fireworks and, as the store were
all closed. still more time was lost
before we obtained the bailwire,
nails and boards used in building
the framework for the flares and
coolies and attaching it to the
plane.
1t was nearly midnight when the
ship was at last ready for the dis
play. Only one car remained on
the field. Re ran this machine out
beside the strawstack and placed it
in position to show up on one side
of the stack, in addition to throwing
most Of its light on the field.
was about to take-off when the
headlights on the car became so
dim that they were entirely useless
One of the men had pocket fash
light and / took off while he threw
its beam on the Strawstack.
1t was eleven-forty when 7 left
the ground and eleven f1fty-seven
when the last flare had burned out
Our contract had been fulfilled with
three minutes to spare.
I located the field by the flash
ing Of the spotlight and levelled off
and landed by its beam.
If the position of light is known
and the field is fairly level it is not
necessary to see the ground, but a
plane can be stalled in and landed
on the darkest night.
Pilots often bring their ships down
when only the outline Of a field is
visible.
For this reason it is imperative
that no distractions, such as farm
machinery or livestock, he allowed
to remain on a landing field at
night.
Locating a strange flying field
by its position in relation to an
equally strange golf course is just
one of the many instances in
pilots life where comedy goes hand
in hand with the most serious stu
atoms.
In one instance the story is told
of a young pilot who had just
learned to fly. He was taking the
owner of his plane for short flight
and was demonstrating the various
maneuverS he had learned.
Finally, he put the machine into
a spin, but after several turns dis
covered that he was not able to
come out, and, after trying vainly
in every way he could remember
hearing Of from his instructor. he
leaned forward in the cockpit and
tensely informed the passenger that
they were about to crash.
Not realizing the seriousness of
the situation. the owner replied:
what the - do you care, it's
not your Ship"
1t was usually the case that
person inexperienced in the art of
flying became quite disturbed over
some trivial thing that was of little
Importance, yet was perfectly at
home and enjoying life tremendous
ly at time when the pilot was
straining every effort to avoid dis
aSter.
People would argue indefinitely,