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cyclists cannot bear to have their feet made fast to the pedals of their
cycles by using toe…clips。
Mention of toe…clips brings us to other accidents which sometimes
befall airmen。 As we have seen in a previous chapter； Mr。 Hawker's
accident in Ireland was due to his foot slipping over the rudder bar of his
machine。 It is thought that the disaster to Mr。 Pickles' machine on 〃Aerial
Derby〃 day in 1913 was due to the same cause； and on one occasion Mr。
Brock was in great danger through his foot slipping on the rudder bar
while he was practising some evolutions at the London Aerodome。
Machines are generally flying at a very fast rate； and if the pilot loses
control of the machine when it is near the ground the chances are that the
aeroplane crashes to earth before he can right it。 Both Mr。 Hawker and Mr。
Pickles were flying low at the time of their accidents； and so their
machines were smashed； fortunately Mr。 Brock was comparatively high up
in the air； and though his machine rocked about and banked in an ominous
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manner； yet he was able to gain control just in the nick of time。
To prevent accidents of this kind the rudder bars could be fitted with
pedals to which the pilot's feet could be secured by toe…clips； as on bicycle
pedals。 Indeed； some makers of air…craft have already provided pedals
with toe…clips for the rudder bar。 Probably some safety device such as this
will soon be made compulsory on all machines。
We have already remarked that certain pilots do not pay sufficient heed
to the inspection of their machines before making a flight。 The difference
between pilots in this respect is interesting to observe。 On the great day at
Hendon； in 1913the Aerial Derby daythere were over a dozen pilots out
with their craft。
From the enclosure one could watch the airmen and their mechanics as
the machines were run out from the hangars on to the flying ground。 One
pilot walked beside his mechanics while they were running the machine to
the starting place； and watched his craft with almost fatherly interest。
Before climbing into his seat he would carefully inspect the spars； bolts；
wires； controls； and so on； then he would adjust his helmet and fasten
himself into his seat with a safety belt。
〃Surely with all that preliminary work he is ready to start；〃 remarked
one of the spectators standing by。 But no！ the engine must be run at
varying speeds； while the mechanics hold back the machine。 This
operation alone took three or four minutes； and all that the pilot proposed
to do was to circle the aerodrome two or three times。 An onlooker asked a
mechanic if there were anything wrong with that particular machine。
〃No！〃 was the reply； 〃but our governor's very faddy； you know！〃
And now for the other extreme！ Three mechanics emerged from a
hangar pushing a rather ungainly…looking biplane； which bumped over the
uneven ground。 The pilot was some distance behind； with cigarette in
mouth； joking with two or three friends。 When the machine was run out
into the open ground he skipped quickly up to it； climbed into the seat；
started the engine； waved a smiling 〃good…bye〃； and was off。 For all he
knew； that rather rough jolting of the craft while it was being removed
from the hangar might have broken some wire on which the safety of his
machine； and his life； depended。 The excuse cannot be made that his
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mechanics had performed this all…important work of inspection； for their
attention was centred on the daring 〃banking 〃 evolutions of some
audacious pilot in the aerodrome。
Mr。 C。 G。 Grey； the well…known writer on aviation matters； and the
editor of The Aeroplane； says； with regard to the need of inspection of air…
craft：
〃A pilot is simply asking for trouble if he does not go all over his
machine himself at least once a day； and； if possible； every time he is
starting for a flight。
〃One seldom hears； in these days； of a broken wheel or axle on a
railway coach； yet at the chief stopping places on our railways a man goes
round each train as it comes in； tapping the tires with a hammer to detect
cracks； feeling the hubs to see if there is any sign of a hot box； and looking
into the grease containers to see if there is a proper supply of lubricant。
There ought to be a similar inspection of every aeroplane every time it
touches the ground。 The jar of even the best of landings may fracture a
bolt holding a wire； so that when the machine goes up again the wire may
fly back and break the propeller； or get tangled in the control wires； or a
strut or socket may crack in landing； and many other things may happen
which careful inspection would disclose before any harm could occur。
Mechanics who inspected machines regularly would be able to go all over
them in a few minutes； and no time would be wasted。 As it is； at any
aerodrome one sees a machine come down； the pilot and passenger （a fare
or a pupil） climb out； the mechanics hang round and smoke cigarettes；
unless they have to perform the arduous duties of filling up with petrol。 In
due course another passenger and a pilot climb in； a mechanic swings the
propeller； and away they go quite happily。 If anything casts loose they
come downand it is truly wonderful how many things can come loose or
break in the air without anyone being killed。 If some thing breaks in
landing； and does not actually fall out of place； it is simply a matter of
luck whether anyone happens to see it or not。〃
This advice； coming from a man with such wide experience of the
theory and practice of flying； should surely be heeded by all those who
engage in deadly combat with the demons of the air。 In the early days of
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aviation； pilots were unacquainted with the nature and method of approach
of treacherous wind gusts； often when they were flying along in a steady；
regular wind； one of these gusts would strike their craft on one side； and
either overturn it or cause it to over…bank； so that it crashed to earth with a
swift side…slip through the air。
Happily the experience of those days； though purchased at the cost of
many lives； has taught makers of air…craft to design their machines on
more trustworthy lines。 Pilots； too； have made a scientific study of air
eddies； gusts； and so on； and the danger of flying in a strong or gusty wind
is comparatively small。
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CHAPTER XLVII Accidents and their Cause
（Cont。）
Many people still think that if the engine of an aeroplane should stop
while the machine was in mid…air； a terrible disaster would happen。 All
petrol engines may be described as fickle in their behaviour； and so
complicated is their structure that the best of them are given to stopping
without any warning。 Aeroplane engines are far superior in horse…power to
those fitted to motorcars； and consequently their structure is more intricate。
But if an airman's engine suddenly stopped there would be no reason
whatever why he should tumble down head first and break his neck。
Strange to say； too； the higher he was flying the safer he would be。
All machines have what is called a GLIDING ANGLE。 When the
designer plans his machine he considers the distribution of the weight or
the engine； pilot and passengers； of the petrol； aeronautical instruments；
and planes； so that the aeroplane is built in such a man