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How many times have we heard these； and similar remarks； when the
newspapers relate the account of some fatality in the air！ People have
come to think that flying is a terribly risky occupation； and that if one
wishes to put an end to one's life one has only to go up in a flying machine。
For the last twenty years some of our great writers have prophesied that
the conquest of the air would be as costly in human life as was that of the
sea； but their prophecies have most certainly been wrong； for in the wreck
of one single vessel； such as that of the Titanic； more lives were lost than
in all the disasters to any form of aerial craft。
Perhaps some of our grandfathers can remember the dread with which
many nervous people entered； or saw their friends enter； a train。 Travellers
by the railway eighty or ninety years ago considered that they took their
lives in their hands； so to speak； when they went on a long journey； and a
great sigh of relief arose in the members of their families when the news
came that the journey was safely ended。 In George Stephenson's days there
was considerable opposition to the institution of the railway； simply on
account of the number of accidents which it was anticipated would take
place。
Now we laugh at the fears of our great…grandparents； is it not probable
that our grandchildren will laugh in a similar manner at our timidity over
the aeroplane？
In the case of all recent new inventions in methods of locomotion there
has always been a feeling among certain people that the law ought to
prohibit such inventions from being put into practice。
There used to be bitter opposition to the motor…car； and at first every
mechanically…driven vehicle had to have a man walking in front with a red
flag。
There are risks in all means of transit； indeed； it may be said that the
world is a dangerous place to live in。 It is true； too； that the demons of the
air have taken their toll of life from the young； ambitious； and daring souls。
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Many of the fatal accidents have been due to defective work in some part
of the machinery； some to want of that complete knowledge and control
that only experience can give； some even to want of proper care on the
part of the pilot。 If a pilot takes ordinary care in controlling his machine；
and if the mechanics who have built the machine have done their work
thoroughly； flying； nowadays； should be practically as safe as motoring。
The French Aero Club find； from a mass or information which has
been compiled for them with great care； that for every 92；000 miles
actually flown by aeroplane during the year 1912； only one fatal accident
had occurred。 This； too； in France； where some of the pilots have been
notoriously reckless； and where far more airmen have been killed than in
Britain。
When we examine carefully the statistics dealing with fatal accidents
in aeroplanes we find that the pioneers of flying； such as the famous
Wright Brothers； Bleriot； Farman； Grahame…White； and so on； were
comparatively free from accidents。 No doubt； in some cases； defective
machines or treacherous wind gusts caused the craft to collapse in mid…air。
But； as a rule； the first men to fly were careful to see that every part of the
machine was in order before going up in it； so that they rarely came to
grief through the planes not being sufficiently tightened up； wires being
unduly strained； spars snapping； or bolts becoming loose。
Mr。 Grahame…White admirably expresses this when he says： 〃It is a
melancholy reflection； when one is going through the lists of aeroplane
fatalities； to think how many might have been avoided。 Really the crux of
the situation in this connection； as it appears to me； is this： the first men
who flew； having had all the drudgery and danger of pioneer work； were
extremely careful in all they did； and this fact accounts for the
comparatively large proportion of these very first airmen who have
survived。
〃But the men who came next in the path of progress； having a machine
ready…made； so to speak； and having nothing to do but to get into it and fly；
did not； in many cases； exercise this saving grace of caution。 And thatat
least in my viewis why a good many of what one may call the second
flight of pilots came to grief。〃
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CHAPTER XLVI
Accidents and their Cause （Cont。）
One of the main causes of aeroplane accidents has been the breakage
of some part of the machine while in the air； due to defective work in its
construction。 There is no doubt that air…craft are far more trustworthy now
than they were two or three years ago。 Builders have learned from the
mistakes of their predecessors as well as profited by their own。 After every
serious accident there is an official enquiry as to the probable cause of the
accident； and information of inestimable value has been obtained from
such enquiries。
The Royal Aero Club of Great Britain has a special 〃Accidents
Investigation Committee〃 whose duty it is to issue a full report on every
fatal accident which occurs to an aeroplane in this country。 As a rule；
representatives of the committee visit the scene of the accident as soon as
possible after its occurrence。 Eye…witnesses are called before them to give
evidence of the disaster； the remains of the craft are carefully inspected in
order to discover any flaw in its construction； evidence is taken as to the
nature and velocity of the wind on the day of the accident； the approximate
height at which the aviator was flying； and； in fact； everything of value
that might bear on the cause of the accident。
As a good example of an official report we may quote that issued by
the Accidents Investigation Committee of the Royal Aero Club on the fatal
accident which occurred to Colonel Cody and his passenger on 7th August；
1913。
〃The representatives of the Accidents Committee visited the scene of
the accident within a few hours of its occurrence； and made a careful
examination of the wrecked air…craft。 Evidence was also taken from the
eye…witnesses of the accident。
〃From the consideration of the evidence the Committee regards the
following facts as clearly established：
〃1。 The air…craft was built at Farnborough； by Mr。 S。 F。 Cody； in July；
1913。
〃2。 It was a new type； designed for the Daily Mail Hydroplane Race
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round Great Britain； but at the time of the accident had a land chassis
instead of floats。
〃3。 The wind at the time of the accident was about 10 miles per hour。
〃4。 At about 200 feet from the ground the air…craft buckled up and fell
to the ground。 A large piece of the lower left wing； composing the whole
of the front spar between the fuselage and the first upright； was picked up
at least 100 yards from the spot where the air…craft struck the ground。
〃5。 The fall of the air…craft was broken considerably by the trees； to
such an extent that the portion of the fuselage surrounding the seats was
practically undamaged。
〃6。 Neither the pilot nor passenger was strapped in。
〃0pinion。 The Committee is of opinion that the failure of the air…craft
was due to inherent structural weakness。
〃Since that portion of the air…craft in which the pilot and passenger
were seated was undamaged； it is conceivable their lives might have been
saved had they been strapped in。〃
This occasion was not the only time when the Accidents Investigation
Committee recommended the advisability of the airman being strapped to
his seat。 But many airmen absolutely refuse to wear a belt； just as many
cyclists cannot bear to have their feet made fast to the pedals of