THE WAY OF THE AIR THE WAY OF THE AIR A DESCRIPTION OF MODERN AVIATION BY EDGAR C. MIDDLETON (“AN AIR PILOT”) LATE FLIGHT SUB-LIEUT., R.N.; AUTHOR OF “AIRCRAFT” [Illustration] NEW YORK FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY PUBLISHERS _Copyright, 1917, by_ FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY _All rights reserved including that of translation into foreign languages_ Dedication TO THE MEMORY OF FRIENDS WHO HAVE FALLEN IN THE GREAT FIGHT Captain ADRIAN LIDDELL, V.C., R.F.C. Flight Sub-Lieut. R. A. J. WARNEFORD, V.C., R.N. Flight Lieut. ROSHER, R.N. Flight Lieut. TALBOT, R.N. Flight Lieut. GRAHAM, R.N. Flight Commander BEARD, R.N. Captain BASIL HALLAM RADFORD, R.F.C. AND Second-Lieut. ARTHUR FISHER, R.F.C. “WHO FOUND GLORY ONLY BECAUSE GLORY LAY IN THE PLAIN PATH OF DUTY” THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED AUTHOR’S NOTE The idea of this little book is to give as clear and graphic a description of modern aviation as circumstances will permit; of the new, heroic race of men to which Flying has given birth; of the conditions under, and the elements in, which their work is carried out, and the difficulties and dangers they have to encounter. Flying is essentially a profession for the younger generation. The strain is too great for men of more mature years. To withstand such strain requires all the vigor, the recklessness, the iron nerve of youth. It is a profession that offers an irresistible appeal to healthy-minded, sport-loving youth, to whom adventure is the nectar of existence. The writer’s chief endeavor in the opening chapters has been to help the young man who wishes to adopt “Flying” as a profession. Part II of the book is composed of a collection of incidents taken from the diary of an air pilot on Active Service somewhere in the North of France. They are given in their original form. I also wish to thank the editors of the _Daily Mail_, _Daily Express_, _Daily Chronicle_, _Evening News_, and _Boys’ Friend_ for their courtesy in permitting me to use, in a few instances, material embodied in articles appearing in their journals. E. C. M. _London, 1917._ CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE PART I THE SERVICE AIRMAN IN THE MAKING