Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15

| 81 countries ana Colonies Oh lie AIIleI =
| icas.
Overcoming Fog.
Fog, that menace to the aviator, is
not going to stop military air maneuvers
in case of future warfare. Formations
of fighting planes, following leaders
whose planes are equipped for blind fly
ing, will plunge into impenetrable fog
and clouds, If necessary, to achieve
combat missions. This is indicated by
training experiences at the Army Fly
ing School, Kelly Field. Tex.
Blind flying has become an increas-
ingly important portion of the stu
dents lot at the Army Flying School.
It has been found by instructors that
students can fly indefinitely in fogs or
clouds which absolutely shut of
ground, sky and all points of orienta-
ton, by using the leaders plane as a
horizon. Losing this point of refer
ence, however. unless the student has
and knows how to use blind flying
instruments, invariably results in a
spin, which, unless the student comes
out into clear air, would inevitably
result in a crash, experience at the
school has shown.
Blind flying has become an indis-
pensable part of the training of the
Army flyer and blind flight instru-
ments are becoming more and more
standard equipment in combat air
craft. This training is made compulsory,
| not only as means of safeguarding
lives and property in peace-tirne OPP
erations, but for increasing the eff
fectiveness of aircraft in time of war
All Army pilots now take, as part
Of their training, a minimum of eight
hours Of blind flying in a hooded
cockpit. which shuts of the sight of
everything. but the instruments on
the panel in front of the pilots eyes.
1t Is difficult for one who has not
had the experience to appreciate Just
what are the feelings of the pilot who
finds himself flying blind for the first
time in hooded cockpit.
An illuminating description of such
a flight, by Maj Frederick L. Martin,
commandant of Kelly Field and leader
of the Army round world" flight
! UP to the time of his crash in a fog
in Alaska, has been sent to Washing
ton by Maj. William Ocker. Army AIR
Corps, whose efforts are largely re-
sponsible for the Army's blind flying
program and who is the inventor of
an improved type of blind flying in
strument now completing a long series
Of Army tests.
Blind Flight Described.
Maj. Martin describes a flight he
made in a hooded cockpit Of q blind
flight instruction plane, with q safety
pilot In the open cockpit behind.
What queer sensation comes ovel
the pilot under the hood for his frs
hightH Mai. Martin said. He feel.
the airplane rolling over the ground a.
1t Is being TAXED out Of the airdrom,
and turned into the wind preparatory
to taking of. He sees the throttle
pushed slowly forward and hears tn,
engine respond with an increasing roar
the airplane moves faster and taste
over the ground. Watching the contro
stick, he sees it move slowly back, tn
movement Of the airplane become
smooth and he knows that it has lief
the ground and Is now in full fight.
THE pitch indicator shows the air
plane Is climbing, the altimeter indi
Gates the altitude being attained abov,
the airdrome, the tachometer show
the engine operating under full throt
tie and the compass indicates the direc
ton OF motion. But the pilot under tn,
hood has no sensation Of forward move
ment, for his field of vision is limited
to the cockpit in which he is sitting
Watching the bank and turn indicators
these remain in their zero positions
The safety pilot is climbing straigh
ahead
Now the turn indicator moves sliehtI,
to the left and the bank indicator show
the airplane is banked up in a left turn