Smyrna times., 1933-10-04
TONS OF GOLD
MAY BE IN LAKE
Huge Emeralds and Other
Jewels Lying Embedded
in Columbia
LEGEND OF "GOLD MEN,

New York.-Scientific interest in
Wiley Posts solo dash around the
world by plane, in which he set a
new record, centers on his constant
companion and helper Mechanical
Mike"-the automatic pilot" Trans
oceanic and other long distance
flights in the last year have demon
strated the value of gyroscopic in
struments for accurate flying when
good visibility cannot be guaran-
teed. In these instruments one gy-
roscope gives the pilot horizontal
line of reference, the other a yer
tical line.
Until recently the pilot, however,
had to keep an eye on the two
instruments constantly and move
controls to keep the plane on the
given course and at the predecided
altitude. For such blind flying it
was only logical to ask Why should
the human pilot function merely as
a machine? Why not develop some
mechanical device to translate the
gyro instrument indications into
corresponding movements Of the
rudder, elevator, and ailerons of the
afrplane?
The Automatic Pilot.
The answer TO those questions is
the automatic pilot.
For Post in the Winnie Mae, the
automatic pilot provided needed re
taxation from the constant task of
flying the ship when safe altitude
and course had been fixed.
Posts ''pilot" differs from pre-
vious ones In that the electrical
device that "picks-off-' the relative
motions of the plane with respect
to the fixed axes Of the gyroscopes
has been replaced by air jet pick
offs" less liable to mechanical trou-
bles and the uncertainty of varying
electrical contacts. The installation
In the Winnie Mae was the first of
this new type.
First it should be explained that
the motions, vertical, horizontal,
and rotary must be known to keep
an airplane in level flight on a CIV
en- course. The three controls on
an airplane for doing this are the
rudder. the elevator in the tail, and
the ailerons at the back edges of
the wings.
In ordinary flight the pilot from
the position of the horizon and the
appearance and feel of the ship
has the necessary reference lines at
his command. In blind flying, how
ever, the horizon is obscured. Some
artificial horizon and directional
point must be provided.
Small spinning horoscopes mount
ed on the instrument board have
been found to give this information.
In the automatic pilot one gyro
spins with its axis vertical AS long
as II revolves no motion of the air
ship changes the direction of its
axis ANY relative motion Of the ship
from the direction of this vertical
axis is converted into movements
or the elevators Of the ship that
correct the climb or dive. The same
gyro likewise controls the ailerons
on the wings to correct rotary
movements.
corrects Course of Plane.
The other gyro, spinning horizon
tally, in the same fashion corrects
motions of the plane when 1t strays
off the desired course, by moving
the rudder.
With a plane speeding along at
$50 miles an hour It cannot be ex-
pected that a small gyro will supply
force enough to move the rudder
and elevator against the wind pres
sure. The secret of the automatic
pilot is the device that picks OFF,
the unwanted, wandering motions Of
the ship and translates them into
movements of powerful hydraulic