HOW FAST?

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1924, Page 4

HOW FAST?

A FLYING QUERY

]low fast is it safe i or human beings to fly F The question comes up as constantly increasing aeroplane speed records are set up hy more powerful engines and more perfectly designed 'planes. The question of the human element, sooner or later, must come in to put an end to increasing air speeds even if no mechanical difficulties are encountered, predicts Major 1/. if. Hauer, Commandant of the School of Aviation Medicine, at Long Island, and it is his prediction that a speed-of 1000 miles per hour, if any pronounced turning movement or change of direction is made, is likely to kill the flyer. Major Bauer, writing ill the ‘-.\cw York World,” explains the reasons for his belief, beginning with the physical troubles now experienced by drivers of racing 'planes. He writes : "The Pulitzer Trophy races called our attention forcibly to the terrific speeds which are now maintained by the racing type of ships. Most people probably read the statement made by Lieutenant Williams, ol the Navy. It will be remembered that he won the Puit.iy.or Trophy speed contest with a -peed of 213.67 miles per hour. Lieutenant Williams said he became unconscious at the turns, or in his own words, ’I went out cold as 1 turned lb- pylons.' in our abdomen that 1 eciiinally are known a- splanchnic vessels. These vessels act as a blood reservoir, and are easily dilated to hold more blood. When we are lying down our circulation is adjusted for that position. When we stand up our circulation rapidly adjusts itself to the new position. Maw vott ever jumped quickly out of lied and felt dizzy, everything in front of your eyes becoming blurred!' .1! so your circulation, which was adjusted to the horizontal position in bed. did not adjust itselt quickly enough to the upright position. A« a result you had insufficient blood in your brain, musing temporary dizziness and faintnoss. "When a man is (lying at the rate of four miles a minute, it '"'ill he seen that making a turn occupies hut a moment'. Anaemia of the brain eatt-es

faintness and unconsciousness immediately. The liver quickly recovers, because the circulation rapidly adjusts itself to the new position ol the body, and the action of the centrifugal force quickly changes to the direction of the new line of travel. At slowei speeils the pilot does not. become unconscious. because the centrifugal no* lion being less, no anaemia ot the brain is produced, and furthermore, the circulation is more readily adapted to the change of the position ot ino body. Xow how high a speed ran the human being stand and still live.' Is it possible to attain a speed so great that the anaemia produced will he so marked and so prolonged that recovery will not take placer The answer is probably yes. "We cannot say how great this speed will he. Experim-nl only will show. However. we have another factor, not. yet mentioned, on which we shall have to figure, lor Dr Caisanx of Fra m e did sol xperimetll.s with dogs. lie rotated them ill a wheel ut speeils varying from four to six 1 urn- a second. Koine ot the dogs showed actual injury to the brain, from the brain being pressed againsttin- skull Recovery followed in sonic, death in others. Autopsies showed there was an anaemia of the brain and an engorgement of the vessel-, of the abdominal area, thus hearing oil! our statements about, the aviator. "It is. therefore, not a wild theory to presume that a speed may yet be attained which, when a turn is made, would he sufficient to cause pressure on the stem of iho brain in such y. manner as to cause death. Ftirthevmoro, the force- of such violent action would he sufficient to rupture Me--.- 1 , vessels both in the brain anil in other parts of the hotly, which in themselves might he sufficient to enure death or lasting injury. So when we talk of attaining a speed of 1000 miles an hour, let its tint, forget that, while mechanically possible, there i< a human element which may make it impossible.”