Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 191, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1918 — DEFECTS SPELL DEATH IN FLYING [ARTICLE]

DEFECTS SPELL DEATH IN FLYING

New York. —Considerable concern has been expressed at the large number of fatal accidents reported from our American military and naval aviation training camps. Considering the risks the novice necessarily takes and the very special physiological and psychological factors that enter into the science of'flying, these fatal accidents are few in proportion to the number of men undergoing training, and they are not more numerous than those on the training fields of Great Britain, France an<J Italy. A perfect knowledge of all the rules of the game of flying will not save a man who .lacks confidence in .himself and is inclined to hesitate. A halfsecond of indecision may be fatal. Initiative, the sporting instinct and a certain irresponsibility, qualities inherent in American youth, have been found of far greater value in the air than the logical, scientific, severely disciplined character of the Germans, and account for the superiority of the allied aviators in general. The most eminent of British scientists have devoted special study to the psychological and physiological aspects of flying. One authority says that good eyesight, normal hearing, good “muscle sense” and equilibration are indispensable qualifications. But most important of all is the right temperament—not an easy thing for a medical board to examine. Of the types—the imaginative and the unimaginative—the imaginative youth is said to make the better pilot if he can keep his imagination under control. Surgical Operations No Bar. In the British air service previous history of wdunds and disease is thoroughly investigated. Persistent headaches, vertigo and easily induced fatigue are serious defects. But sometimes even a serious surgical operation is not regarded as important. Thus a doctor recently passed as fit for flying a man who had quite a large piece missing from the frontal region

of the skull. It is much more important that a man should have both arms intact than both legs. A clevert pilot who was killed on the western! front was Lord Lucas, who had an! artificial leg. Considerable importance is attached to the respiratory system. In addition to good, healthy lungs and vital capacity, the would-be pilot must pass a bteath-holdlng test. This gives an Indication of his capacity to stand the strain of flying at high altitudes, where the air Is rarefied and breathing is difficult. No ipan with a weak heart can hope to pass the tests. Self-baldncing is another test. The candidate has to stand on one leg with his eyes shut and his hands on his hips. There is also the old test for sobriety—walking a straight line heel to toe with eyes open and then turnipg round and walking back without losing balance. The importance of this test can be understood, seeing that an aviator flying in a dark cloud or in a fog becomes unconscious of his position and sometimes the machine is actually upside down. It is essential that he should not lose a second in recovering his balance. The throat, nose arid ear are carefully examined, for any defects might seriously handicap a man during the great strain that all flying imposes. With regard to the eyes, it is considered that pilots should have perfect color vision, in order to pick out the color or marking of hostile machines, and In recognizing signal lights and in judging the nature of landing grounds. Air Sickness Rare. A candidate who suffers from seasickness or train sickness would not be rejected on those grounds alone. Air sickness, caused by the'rolling and pitching of the airplane, is a very rare complaint, and sickness usually occurs immediately after landing. An unstable nervous system suggested by fidgety movements of the hands, feet or face, or biting the nails is a poor recommendation. .