MAKING TURNS.--When making a turn, under no
circumstances try to make a landing. This
should never be done except when flying straight,
and then safety demands that the landing should
be made against the wind and not with it. There
are two reasons for this: First, when flying with
the wind the speed must be greater than when flying
against it.
By greater speed is meant relative to the earth.
If the machine has a speed of thirty miles an hour,
in still air, the speed would be forty miles an hour
going with the wind, but only twenty miles against
the wind. Second, the banking of the planes
against the air is more effective when going into
the wind than when traveling with it, and, therefore,
the speed at which you contact with the earth
is lessened to such an extent that a comparatively
easy landing is effected.
THE FOURTH STAGE.--After sufficient time has
been devoted to the long turns shorter turns may
be made, and these also require the same care,
and will give an opportunity to use the lateral
controls to a greater extent. Begin the turns, not
by an abrupt throw of the turning rudder, but
bring it around gently, correcting the turning
movement to a straight course, if you find the
machine inclined to tilt too much, until you get used
to the sensation of keeling over. Constant practice
at this will soon give confidence, and assure
you that you have full control of the machine.
THE FIGURE 8.--You are now to increase the
height of flying, and this involves also the ability
to turn in the opposite direction, so that you may
be able to experience the sensation of using the
stabilizers in the opposite direction. You will
find in this practice that the senses must take in
the course of the wind from two quarters now, as
you attempt to describe the figure 8.
This is a test which is required in order to obtain
a pilot's license. It means that you shall
be able to show the ability to turn in either direction
with equal facility. To keep an even flying
altitude while describing this figure in a wind, is
the severest test that can be exacted.
THE VOLPLANE.--This is the technical term for
a glide. Many accidents have been recorded owing
to the stopping of the motor, which in the
past might have been avoided if the character of
the glide had been understood. The only thing
that now troubles the pilot when the engine "goes
dead," is to select a landing place.
The proper course in such a case is to urge
the machine to descend as rapidly as possible, in
order to get a headway, for the time being. As
there is now no propelling force the glide is depended
upon to act as a substitute. The experienced
pilot will not make a straight-away glide,
but like the vulture, or the condor, and birds of
that class, soar in a circle, and thus, by passing
over and over the same surfaces of the earth, enable
him to select a proper landing place.
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