WITH THE R.F.C.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9621, 29 March 1917, Page 8

WITH THE R.F.C.

STRENUOUS TRAINING K'BW ZEALAND OFFICE®. TEELS OF THE WORK. A Wellington man now serving with the Royal Flying Corps writes interestingly of his experiences while trainingHe. says: “I left Oxford early in October, after passing the R.F-C. theory examination, and went to an aerodrome on Salisbury Plain, whore 1 spent nearly a fortnight learning elementary flying. We were quite near the big New Zealand base camp, and I remember flying over it one day very, low, at not more than 400 feet. All the men about the oamp were looking up and waving, hut little did-’ they know that I was one of them a few weeks previously. Neither did they know how uncomfortable I was! I simply could not got my old ’bus to climb to a . safe height. Tho cause, of half our accidents, especially with learners, is living too low over parts that are unsuitable for a landing, such as woods, villages, camps, etc. If you ' have height and anything goes wrung with the engine you can glide d( Irn at a gentle slope ■ for miles and pick out a suitable landing-ground. For instance, when flying machine over to France, pilots must first get to 12,000 feet over Dover hefoi d making the crossing, so that if tte engine fails anywhere on the journey, it may be possible to volplane either to the French coast or hack to the English coast, whichever were the nearer. “From Salisbury Plain I went to Montrose, tho most northern aerodrome in the United Kingdom. I applied for Montrose, chiefly because I wanted to see as much as possible of the Old Country en route, and because it is one of the best aerodromes we have. I remained there until early in December, when I took my wings, or, in other words, until I became a proud and happy pilot, ready for duty overseas. As a matter of fact, some of the officers who took their wings at the same time went to France immediately, but h.V a stroke of luck I was detained to be trained as a _ scout pilot. To become a scout pilot is the ambition of every pupil, and although I had aspirations in that direction myself I was very, surprised when I found myself amongst the foitunate few. I am anything hut a ’ startling success as a pilot; in fact, my one and only qualification is that I am sound in the air—l simply oould not, ' and would not, do some of the rash things that attract many young follows. Ail of us while learning have unconsciously taken plenty of liberties at times, but so many people deliberately take unnecessary risks. I have got_ to that stage now that I like the air immensely, and for scout Hying I have simply got to practise big side-slips, nose dives, stalling (that is, shutting off engine and holding aeroplane level until it remains almost stationary for a moment, and then lurches into a nose dive), and spirals on either wing tip with the wings perpendicular. All these stunts are of great assistance in aerial tactics when fighting an enemy machine, and they are not so hard to do. and quite safe provided one practises them high up, say, over 6000 feet. If a machine gets out of control at a great height it is almost always possible to put it straight before falling to the ground. I am enjoying this special -1 training very much, and try to picture the life at the front. It must bo thrilling to ho flying as high as sixteen or seventeen thousand feet and eager to chase any enemy machine that appears on the scone. They saw yon cither get that way or begin to develop- nerves. I shall be more than satisfied if I can acquire the former mood.

“After Montrose I was sent to an aerodrome near Newcastle, and did a lot of formation fly mg, fighting in the air, and artillery observation by wireless. I alw took some very clear photos from 6000 feet. Actual flying is a -very small part of a pilot’s work at tbe front, and it is little wonder that it takes so Jong to train us. If all the other branches of the Army are as up-to-date as the R.F.C. I think there should be big strides towards success in 1917. From Newcastle I was sent to Oxfoid, where I am now. It is rather strange to be finishing my training at the place where I joined tbe R.F.C. four months ago. As regards leave. I Lave had nothing more than an occasional weekend since I enlisted eighteen months ago. Both Christmas and New Year £ spent flying.

“I have had one or two esrperienccs in the air, such as engine conking out

at 3000 feet, when twenty miles from home, but they are nothing to speak of, especially when compared with some of the anxious times that have fallen to others. On my first day up at Newcastle I got lost in the mist, so landed in a big field, inquired tho way home, swung my own propeller, and ran round and jumped into my seat while about a dozen villagers hung on to the wings and tail of tho machine for me. Still, I couldn’t find the aerodrome, and at dark landed, near a huge country manor, where 1 got a great reception. They couldn’t do enough for me, especially when they learnt I was a New Zealander. It is quite amusing tho way people at Home look upon the colonies as something wonderful for fighting for the Mother ’Country.”