Learning to fly in the U.S. Army

by E. N. Fales

This cut also illustrates proper landing attitude, since airplane is just skimming the ground.

In order to get off the ground you will want good engine power; it takes considerable thrust to accelerate an airplane on the ground to its flying speed; in fact the first flying machine of the Wrights had to use an auxiliary catapult to furnish the thrust necessary to get them into the air. Making sure that the motor is giving full power raise the hand as a signal to the attendants to remove the chocks and let go. As you start rolling forward push the control lever forward which will raise the tail off the ground and place the wings edgewise to the wind while they will not offer resistance to the acquiring of good rolling speed. Within a few seconds the machine will have attained on the ground a velocity not less than the low flying speed; it will not rise, however, until the tail is lowered by pulling the lever back. When the necessary rolling speed is attained pull the lever softly backward; the tail at once drops, the wings increase their angle and lift and the machine will rise, the lever being held in a fixed position (see Fig. [32]). The distance between the point of starting and rising will be 100 yd. or more and will occupy from 5 to 10 sec. depending on the wind.

The change from flying position to climbing position is only a slight modification involving only a slight pulling back of the control lever and holding it in fixed position; the motor may in some machines simply be opened out when its increased power will make the machine rise; however, there is only one speed at which the climb will be fastest and therefore it is well to know what is the proper speed for climbing; the motor is then opened out full and the airplane operated to give the proper speed corresponding.

The pupil should rise to the height of at least 100 ft., as any less is useless and nothing will be learned from landing. In the case of cross-country flying the pilot will rise to the height of 2000 ft., circling over the field rather than flying off in a straight line so that preparatory to his start he always has the flying field in reach.

(From “How to Instruct in Flying.”)

Fig. 33.—Airplane in gliding position, approaching a landing.

Note that its attitude relative to line of flight is similar to “flying position,” line of flight however being inclined.

Landing.—Proper landing is the most important thing in airplane flying. The pilot in turning his machine downward toward a landing spot from flight will choose a distance from the field equivalent to the proper gliding angle of his machine. If the gliding angle is 1 in 7 he must not turn downward any further from the field than a distance greater than seven times his altitude or he will fall short. It is safer to come closer to the field before turning downward for two reasons: first, because you may not be gliding at the best gliding angle; second, because you can always kill extra height by a spiral or two better than you can regain it. Have height to spare when landing.

To come down throttle down the engine and push the lever softly forward until the proper gliding angle is obtained (Fig. [33]). The reason for throttling down the engine is: first, that you do not need its thrust when you are coasting down because gravity furnishes all the necessary velocity; second, if you glide or dive with the motor wide open high speed will result, resulting in strains on the machine especially on the moment of leveling out again; third, at this high speed the controls become stiff to operate.