Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-28
FLYER, SENSELESS,
DIVES 25,O(O FEET
Comes To in Time to Find
Plane Attire and Leaps
to Safety.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
est temperature l found on this flight
was so degrees below zero Centigrade
wore a heavy blanket-lined flying
suit, moccasins, fur-lined, fur helmet
and face mask, and, of course, goggles
and parachute.
The start of the climb was made at
90 miles per hour, with a decrease OF
speed of approximately one mile per
1000 feet. This speed had been pre-
determined by calculations as the best
climbing speed, and 1 was required to
1y accordingly.
Records Data at 1900 Feet.
At 1000 feet, 1 was required to make
q record of the following: Atmosphere
temperature, engine revolutions and
engine temperature. This information
was written on a card fastened on the
leg of the aviator.
Due to the heavy flying equipment
and the extreme cold had some diff
Guilty in making the required notes.
While at this time, I was flying at the
correct speed, and regulating the supply
of oxygen to make certain that was
obtaining a sufficient amount.
I climbed to an altitude of $4,000 feet
In approximately IS minutes and found
the temperature so below zero. AT this
Attitude experienced difficulty in
breathing the oxygen through the nipple,
as ice would form on and in the nipple
from the saliva from my mouth: Elk
cessive saliva Is caused by nhallng
oxygen through the mouth. At this time,
the card required that fly for a few
minutes at 81 miles per hour and !
climbed to $4,000 feet.
Loses Consciousness.
There, 1 remember reaching in half
asleep fashion for the nipple OF the
oxygen tube, which had fallen out OF
nv mouth. At this instant 1 became
unconscious and did not regain con-
sciousness until the aircraft had dived
to about 1900 feet.
When I regained consciousness, 1elC
nauseated, a condition caused by lack
of oxygen. I Immediately put the nip
pIe in my mouth and took several long
inhales of the precious oxygen. l
thought I had been unconscious Tor a
few seconds only and was surprised 10
note the altitude meter recording S,0uU
feet.
realized Immediately that I had
been unconscious for some time and
during the period had dived about
$4,000 feet toward the ground.
I am thoroughly convinced that Ice
had formed in the nipple of the oxygen
tube and prevented my getting SUI
ficient to remain conscious, as had
more than sufficient oxygen Tor the
flight.
Dives at 800 Miles Per Hour.
AS this type of aircraft is very stable,
1t is believed 1t went into a glide and
dove at about a 45-degree angle for
the Is 900 feet at a speed of approx
mately 800 miles per hour. This In
herent stability is built into this type
of aircraft to take care of such condt-
tons as encountered.
. An unstable airplane would have gone
into a vertical dive and disintegrated,
due to excessive speed caused by gravity
and the motor being wide open.
When regained consciousness,
noticed that the motor was running un-
evenly and would not turn up more
than 700 revolutions per minute.
whereas normally this motor would
turn up approximately 1900 revolutions
with full throttle.
I Immediately looked for Wright Field,
as realized that forced landing was
imminent4r started gliding toward the
field, which was about 20 miles south.
After losing about 5000 feet altitude,
gliding toward the field, I observed
flames In the motor compartment, be-
tween the banks of the motor and for
ward of the fire wall and gasoline tank.
Battles Flames in Air.
My first thought was not to jump,
but to try to land the plane. con-
tinued to glide toward the field.
pulled the automatic fire extinguisher,
which sprays a fire-extinguishing liquid
over the motor. AS 1t was later de-
termined, the origin of the fire was in
the crank case, and this liquid could
not reach the fame. In consequence
1t did little good.
After pulling the fire extinguiSher
and noting the fire was not dying out, I
made the decision to leave the plane,
knowing that the trusty Army parachute
would open, provided had sufficient
altitude for it to open.
At 5000 feet unfaStened my safety
belt and nosed the ship over suddenly.
expecting to catapult myself out over
the upper wing. While stationed at
Selfridge Field. Mich, where this type
of ship is used, I had made up my
mind that this was the best way to get
out OF pursuit ship.
No Time for Fear, He Says.
Instead of being catapulted out I was
merely thrown upon the headrest in
rear of the cockpit. I still had hold
of the control stick and Immediately
pulled the plane up into a stall and
fell over the left side between the left
wing and stabilizer.
The question is often asked whether
or not it requires much nerve to leave
an airplane while several thousand feet
up in the air and to dive into space. de-