An Explorer in the Air Service (Volume 606) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1920. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... ADVANCED TRAINING FOR PURSUIT PILOTS IT is not my intention in this chapter to furnish a manual whereby a pilot can learn to do stunts or become a good military aviator. On the contrary, since the science of aviation is so very new and the art of flying has been practised for so few years and aerial tactics are scarcely more than a few months old, the object of setting down these details is historical rather than practical. Many of the pilots that went through the course will probably find that at the time they went through things were not exactly as set down here. I have tried to portray the system as it was at the time the Armistice was signed. A few years from now, many of these manoeuvres and formations will undoubtedly seem very crude and extraordinary. The pilots who are born this year will look upon us, who strove to the best of our ability to give the most advanced course of flying in the world, as foolish old idiots. At the same time, some of them may be glad to see how we did it, and their fathers may be glad to be reminded of how it was done in November, 1918. Fields 4, 5, and 6 were under the very competent direction of Captain St Clair Street, a most conscientious and successful commander. These fields were equipped with the 15-meter Nieuport, using the same motor as the 18-meter and the 23-meter. While not quite as small as the Baby Nieuport, it was the smallest practical avion that the Nieuport Company produced, and it was probably the most difficult plane to land. It was used extensively at the Front in 1916, but proved to be almost too delicate. Consequently, we believed that when a student had mastered this plane, he could feel confident of his ability to master readily any other type that might be assigned to him at the Front or anywhere else....