AIRMEN'S TRICKS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 2, 27 September 1918, Page 5

AIRMEN'S TRICKS

Usr Clarence Winchester, in the "Daily Mail.").,

It is difficult to think of anything that one cannot do now on certain types of modern aeroplanes.

Looping-the-loop is iprobably the most common form of "aerobatics." It is also one of the, easiest tricks airmen can perform, and in some classes of machino very little ability,is needed, as owing to their particular design the aeroplanes will practically loop themselves, provided the pilot has sufficient confidence lu them. Before the present-day airman does his first loop by himself he is taken up in an .aeroplane fitted with two sets of controls, and his instructor treats him to several loops so . that he can get accustomed to. tho sensation and also notice Exactly how tho controls are manipulated. He is thon allowed to do tho loop himself, tho instructor still being in the machino to prevent accidonts, and finally' ha goes up solo for his first independent looping exhibition. Not' so very long ago pilots had to do their first loop, without any very definite ideas !on tho matter. Tho hick was thon con-, sidercd-dangerous. In fact, thero is tho story of a Itussinn military airman who, after his first loop, was put into the guard-room for "audacious flying"! Another trick, now. becoming very common, is tho "spinning noso dive. ■ It .can bo dono from two or threo thousand feet. The aeroplane is made to divo nose down toward tho earth, and is spun round and round on its Axis until tho pilot desires to flatten out any fly level again.' Ho should not flatten out at Iras than about a thousand feet from tho the ground. '

AVhafc is known ns "the tail slide" is accomplished by climbing the machine nearly straight up into tho air and switching off the engine. The machino will then' fall back toward the. ground tail first in a curved path until it is level, when tho ,enginb can bo sy/itchcd en again. To "roll" is to turn tho machine or toll it over sideways while it is flying. The pilot does> not remain upsido down when he has completed half tho "roll." Imt continues "rolling" until the' craft Is (lying level again. It is practically a sideways loop. In "cart-wheeling," another simple trick, the pilot stands his machine on its tail, and by certain movements of his controls makes it drop sideways or cartwheel fruihion, so that as its; nose falls the craft conies out in the opposite direction to that in whioh it was flying originally. "llousc zooming" is a very common "stunt" among rery young airmen with very limited experience. As Ihcir knowledge of living increases they hecomo aware of the risks" to themselves and to fhe public, and then limit their lowilyinz to the open country, where they can "jump'' hedses. trees, and ihe like without unnecessary risks to other people. They must have practice, but it is unwise to get it by "stunting" almost in the street and in the'gardens of houses. Sudden failure might mean death not only .to the pilot but lo'.any number of people underneath him.