What Air Pilots Mast Know.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 40, 25 May 1917, Page 2

What Air Pilots Mast Know.

To the ordinary observer the air may seem quite guiltless of oivngeis, but, in reality, this is by no means the case. Aviators rarely make a flight without encountering some invisible, and therefore all the moic dangerous, peril. During the earlier days of aviation these dangers often proved fatal, but nowadays an airman, by means of his chart, can avoid or at least be prepared for, them.

A considerable amount of time and money have been expended on these charts, which are of incalculable advantage to airmen. From towers in various parts of Europe kites bearing with them apparatus which records fluctuations in the strength of winds, are constantly sent aloft, sometimes to astounding heights. On these towers, also, are placed special instruments which record the force of the wind nearer' the earth. From the data thus collected experts are constantly preparing new air charts.

These charts show where the disturbed areas exist, at what heights they are encountered, and what is the maximum force of gusts over localities known to he dangerous during various strengths of wind. Aviator’s themselves play a big part in the making of air charts.

At the Front, for instance, our airmen are constantly coming in with news of fresh dangers they have dis-; covered. The air-pocket, eddy, or whatever the newly-discovered peril may be, is promptly marked down on the chart of that region for the guidance of other aviators flying over, that part of the country.