AVIATION'S FUTURE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9477, 14 December 1918, Page 3

AVIATION'S FUTURE.

i\ jsruat deal of ink and paper has j been used in arguing the pros and,cons 1 of .-the physical aspect of Hying (sa,ys I an .English writer). Very clever doctors and medical men have pointed oufc | that few systems are able to withstand the-sudden changes met with .in the courseoort r a few minutes' flight. They j say thnt a pilot may bo 15,000 feet up, and, by a. sudden dh'p, reach the sea level so nuickly that' the system has not time to adjust itself to the difference in air pressure. It is true. The system would not,'and, unless the pilot, were in the pink of physical condition, he would 1)6 distinctly the worse for the experience. ■ .Without 'protection-,,----either by ear-drums or the holding:, of. his breath, deafness would follow _ \\\ any case, in war tins sort of thing; has to be done. But then in war risks of many kinds must be taken which; normally would be- regarded as attemuts at suicide. , Only oxperienca can show whether or not the'average-per-son can withstand such 'sudden changes. :. • . ' „ ;.,';• !b Personally, the writer, is oi .the, opinion that the human; . system caiV become inured to most things. Oneimportant point, however, is 6ye>: looked by those, who regard the future, of flying us limited because, of such, matters, and that is that extraordinary; flying of the sort referred to would not bo common. People'would not indulge in it for choice: further, there must he laws and regulations of tho air just as there are for the land and the seas, and these laws would look askance on sl/unt flying.