WHO MAKE THE BEST AIRMEN ?

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3168, 20 August 1917, Page 6

WHO MAKE THE BEST AIRMEN ?

• GOO]} HORSEMEN, SAYS ONE AUTHORITY. According to Major-Gencral Sir David Henderson (Director-General of Military Aeronautics), good horsemen, and igood motorists make good flying men. 110 prefers tlio horseman to the motorist, because the horse is "an independent conveyance," and in this respect has more resemblance to an aeroplane than a motor-car has. A horse needs closer watching than the engiue of a motor-car. "Good horsemen p-pnerally make good motorists, but good motorists do not generally make good horsemen," states General Henderson. The British medical tests for young men yfhq desire to fly deal with physical disabilities, but the French apply a test for nervousness. Sir David Hendeifon does not regard the test for nervousness as of much practical value. "Tf you want a.man who can resist sudden slfocks;" he said, "you might get one constituted like an ox, but that is not tiVe type that would produce good pilots. I believe that we have had fewer failures among pilots than the French. A laree number of youths proved at first unfit for flying at the front, and eonie people therefore assumed that they suffere'e! from 'cold feet,' but in reality they had recognisable physical disabilities. After a fortnight in hospital eome of these yoiing men had been turned out fit and were flying now. The primary failure was often the result of flying at a 'high altitude when the pilot had Eometlfing the matter with him. In nine cases out of ten it had nothing to do with nerves."