The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-08-28

new pilot mas nao lmPre0oe0 VPVn
his mind is that landing field must
always be kept within striking dis.
lance, II possible. This precaution
not only applies to new pilots but TO
those Of experience.
The beginner is warned to keep
within gliding distance OF the field
1t all times. This distance varies
because the gliding angle. Of planes
varies. The less weight per square
foot on the wing area the greater
the distance the plane will travel
forward from any given height.
Thus . plane weighing 500 pounds
will glide approximately twice %
far from the 1O0-foot altitude -
the one weighing 1000 pounds, even
though they have the same wing
spread. i
A landing 20 feet in the air and
q sudden drop to the ground is a
usual stunt for the beginner. This
causes the ship to bounce and the
landing has to be done over again,
this time without any forward
speed unless the student thinks to
open the motor in time.
The first solo landing 10 : real
experience. Sometimes the pilot
gets excited and furnishes some
amusement for the spectators. Per.
haps he may decide to turn loose
and let the plane make its own
landing. This method usually ends
in disaster.
A thing which happened to . COM
panion student during my training
days is an example.
Our class was out on the field,
each man waiting his turn to try
the none too numerous and none
too airworthy training ships. We
were doing q lot Of ground flying
|. discussing the feelings and
sensations Of the first solo. Ny
friend, we shall call him George,
did not take an active part in the
humorous aspects Of the discussion.
with him it was q serious matter.
| His turn came and he climbed
into the cockpit; he spent some
time adjusting his belt and getting
fixed in the seat. He made . nice
take-off, made the proper circles al
designated places, and finally got
around to the other end Of the ficld
preparatory to landing. Down HI
came -. just right until he go'
near the ground. Then he lost hi.
nerve. Just when the job was al
but finished he decided that every
thing was wrong.
He pulled open the motor ant
shot skyward in q steep climb
Around the field he went again an,
in for . landing. This time he hat
too much speed and he oversize
the landing field, which was q larg
: one. George made two more at
: tsmpts, but each time he lost hi
: nerve. The landing attempts wer
4 either too short, too fast, too slow
] too low, or too high. So he decide,
. to stay up and not land until h
|. had to. =
The gas was good for about 1
minutes, at the end Of which tim
the motor began to spit. Then
stopped.
Down came George. He lande
his ship, but wrong side up.
George said he remembered try
, ing to land the ship but couldn'
recall the details. This pilot turne
Eout to BE- . real flyer and later b
brought down several German plane
over the lines. George learned fror
this experience that when Z job wa
: to b done +. to 20 ahead and d
It and not wait for q thing to tax
it, own course.
A flyer should try to keep owe
. open country when he IL In the ai
- It always affords. in case q
forced landings, . place to set dow,
his ship with reasonable safety
All the air routes over the countr
< are mapped out with the idea tina
the best route 10 over smooth couu
try.
;. OF course there are times whe
. woods, broken country, mountain
and lakes must b crossed and 1
such cases the pilot usually ee,
I enough altitude to glide TO . smoot
. landing place. The present do
I motors and planes are not 90 DE-
pendent on level country but Il
highly desirable. Pilots will hav
forced landings for some time
: come.
4 pilot also should know how Z
! distinguish between smooth m
9 rough landing fields. A field ma
ri appear ever 90 smooth from ia
4 air but when the wheels Of . fsa
moving plane hit the ground Il 8
sometimes found that the eyes hay
deceived the mind. Any field whie
has crop rows planted 10 Z pot
place to land. The ground q %,
4 ana unless the plane lands with q
rows the machine may turn over .
II Pasture land looks smooth fra,
!. 2 high altitude but when the Al,
[. tor nsars the ground he can som'
times - contours similar 20 thol
!. on = RELIEF map. They are difficu
n % 80 et monday - the sun cast
j no shadow. but. IN the forenoon I
!, afternoon the shadow u cast a
!. the rough places stand out. HE
grass can b detected because
|. appears - waves o. ripples. Ora
! = dangerous = II viii sometime
!. catch on the wheels or break r.
4 propeller. Wet ground e dark1
than dry and can b distineuishe
,&l rom : great height . 600
{ tnlng 70 watch - "A airplsne e
stick IN the mud.
I'll The day q coming (thines =
!. working to this end even nov
Mhen every town Of size throueho,
the country will have it's name az
played tor the air travelnr. Ene