TRYING AN AEROPLANE

Southland Times, Issue 19280, 26 June 1924, Page 6

TRYING AN AEROPLANE

ADVENTURE AND NEVER-FAILING THRILLS. Taking up a new type of ’plane for the first time is always an adventure, and provides a never-failing thrill as the machine starts its rush across the aerodrome, writes Harold Balfour in the Daily Mail. Settle comfortably in the seat, fasten up the safety belt, see that arms and legs can move freely, and all controls are within easy reach. When the engine has been warmed and tested the aeroplane is taxied out on to tire aerodrome, faced up wind, and the throttle opened. Within fifteen yards, in a fast scout, the machine will try to lift, but to allow for a safe margin of flying speed it must be held down to the ground for some seconds longer.

No stunts should be tried till up a sufficient height, but once having attained 2000 feet, the pilot may commence to get the feel of his strange mount. Starting with slightly banked turns, the angle is increased until the turns are vertical. After this more turns are made at varying speeds to test how the machine answers to the controls. The next thing is to ascertain the stalling speed of the machine, or how slowly it can fly, for a pilot must know how much safe speed he has in hand to carry out evolutions. The nose is jHilled up to the heavens and the engine cut off. From 120 miles an hour the air speed indicator drops to 80, 60, 50, and then 45. At this speed the nose, still pointing skyward, wavers. A moment’s pause, and then the aeroplane plunges earthwards, nose first. With a fall of some hundred feet, sufficient speed will have been regained, and the machine can be brought under control once more. “Now for a loop,” says the pilot to himself. Down goes the nose and up goes the speed till the wires scream. Back with the stick and over she goes. Earth and sky tumble over one another, until the ground suddenly seems to be rushing upwards to hit the pilot in the face The loop is looped.