Evening star., 1939-01-22
Simple Tests
Tell Fitness
For Flying
Steady Nerves and
Sense of Balance
Are Required


has been drawn up by doctors to
help the United States Government
decide whether applicants for flying
courses would make good pilots. 1t
will be fun to try these tests on
yourself and your friends. whether
you would like to fly a plane or not.
Here are a few of them:
l. SELF BALANCING TEST
With your eyes closed, stand on the
right foot for Is seconds then on the
left. Don't let the leg that is raised
touch the other one. The arms may
be used for balancing. 1t is all right
to get into position with the eyes
open.
This test sounds absurdly easy. but
1t is more difficult than 1t looks. 1t
demonstrates how good your equilib-
rum is, and how quickly you can in
terpret sensations arising in the
joints and muscles. Some unsteadi-
ness Is permissible, but if you lose
balance you would not be wise to fly
an airplane.
2. RESPIRATION COM
pletely. forcing all the breath out of
your lungs. Then inhale to a COM
Portable degree and hold your breath
by keeping your mouth shut and
pinching your nose firmly. Hold it
as long as you can. What sensation
finally forced you to breathe again?
If you felt that you would explode If
you didn't take another breath your
score on this test is all right. But if
your vision became blurred or you
felt dizzy yoC would not be able to
stand high attitudes.
g. STANDING AND WALKING
TEST-The first part of this test is
to put one foot in front of the other
in a straight line. to close your eyes
and so stand without losing balance.
The normal person is rather un-
steady, but he can do it. The second
part of the test is to choose line on
the floor and to walk along 1t, heel
to toe, first forward and then back
ward, then to do the same thing with
the eyes shut.
4. RELAxATION-T test re-
quires an examiner. You can test
your friends with it and they can
test you. The examiner takes the
forearm of the person to be tested in
his hand, tells him to relax, then un-
expectedly withdraws his hand. The
arm should then drop down freely.
If there is any stiffness or tension
that prevents the arm dropping
naturally it is a sign of nervous
trouble or staleness.
S. BALANCING-Cut out a circle
Of cardboard Is of an inch in diane
ter. Glue 1t to the head of an ordi-
nary clothespin. Place the inverted
clothespin on its base IL inches
from the end of an ordinary 12-inch
ruler. Pick up the ruler by its other
end and hold 1t at arms length
without upsetting the clothespin.
6. COORDINATION - Standing
upright, raise your first finger to
your nose, first with one hand, then
with the other, then both first fingers
together. Drop the hands, and with
the right heel touch the left knee;
then with the left heel touch the
right knee. Now close your eyes and
60 through all these movements
quickly.
7. HEART MUSCLE TEST-Get
watch, and count how many times
your pulse beats minute. Now hop
so times on one foot and take the
pulse Immediately afterward. Wait
minutes and then count your pulse
again. If the heart muscles are
normal, the first and third counts of
your pulse should be approximately
the same. For instance, the first
count might be 8O After exercise
it might be 120. In this case, the
third count, minutes later, should
be around 81 or "a.
There are other tests among those
drawn up by the doctors, but those
given above are the most simple to
perform, and give b good idea of how
fit for flying your bodily mechan-
ism is.