Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 166, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1918 — PILOTS ARE WIRELESS MEN [ARTICLE]

PILOTS ARE WIRELESS MEN

Men Who Operate Airplanes in British Aviation Service Must Be Telegraphers. Somewhere in Prance. —Every pilot in the British air service is now a trained wireless telegraphist. The use of the wireless on airplanes is, however, limited by the weight of the apparatus and the noise and vibration of the engines. Heavier-than-air craft cannot remain aloft, with engines stopped, for the reception of long wireless messages. But the wireless has enlarged the field Q of airplanes in warfare. Messages transmitted by the “cavalry of the air” now keep headquarters in touch with every visible movement on the part of the enemy. It is, however, in connection with artillery that wireless is chiefly employed. The difficulty of receiving “sound” signals in the air will be apparent when it is stated that conversation between pilot and observer is impracticable, without the use of special “loudspeaking” telephones, on account of the noise made by the engine, the hum of the vibrating rigging, and the rush of air. Signals sent when flying across the ground station, or when turning, are not so clear as those sent while flying directly toward or away from the receiving station.