按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rotates in an irregular manner； sometimes stopping altogether。 When this
happens； the skilful pilot forces the nose of his machine down； and so
regains his normal flying speed； but if he allowed the propeller to stop and
at the same time his forward speed through the air to be considerably
148
… Page 149…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
diminished； his machine would probably slip sideways through the air and
crash to earth。 In many cases side…slips have taken place at aerodromes
when the pilot has been rounding a pylon with the nose of his machine
pointing upwards。
When a machine flies round a corner very quickly the pilot tilts it to
one side。 Such action as this is known as BANKING。 This operation can
be witnessed at any aerodrome when speed handicaps are taking place。
Since upside…down flying came into vogue we have heard a great deal
about NOSE DIVING。 This is a headlong dive towards earth with the nose
of the machine pointing vertically downwards。 As a rule the pilot makes a
sharp nose dive before he loops the loop。
Sometimes an aeroplane enters a tract of air where there seems to be
no supporting power for the planes； in short； there appears to be； as it were；
a HOLE in the air。 Scientifically there is no such thing as a hole in the air；
but airmen are more concerned with practice than with theory； and they
have； for their own purposes； designated this curious phenomenon an AIR
POCKET。 In the early days of aviation； when machines were far less
stable and pilots more quickly lost control of their craft； the air pocket was
greatly dreaded； but nowadays little notice is taken of it。
A violent disturbance in the air is known as a REMOUS。 This is
somewhat similar to an eddy in a stream； and it has the effect of making
the machine fly very unsteadily。 Remous are probably caused by electrical
disturbances of the atmosphere； which cause the air streams to meet and
mingle； breaking up into filaments or banding rills of air。 The windthat is；
air in motionfar from being of approximate uniformity； is； under most
ordinary conditions； irregular almost beyond conception； and it is with
such great irregularities in the force of the air streams that airmen have
constantly to contend。
149
… Page 150…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER XLIX The Future in the Air
Three years before the outbreak of the Great War； the Master…General
of Ordnance； who was in charge of Aeronautics at the War Office；
declared： 〃We are not yet convinced that either aeroplanes or air…ships will
be of any utility in war〃。
After four years of war； with its ceaseless struggle between the Allies
and the Central Powers for supremacy in the air； such a statement makes
us rub our eyes as though we had been dreaming。
Seven yearsand in its passage the air encircling the globe has become
one gigantic battle area； the British Isles have lost the age…long security
which the seas gave them； and to regain the old proud unassailable
position must build a gigantic aerial fleet as greatly superior to that of
their neighbours as was； and is； the British Navy。
Seven yearsand the monoplane is on the scrap…heap； the Zeppelin has
come as a giant destroyerand gone； flying rather ridiculously before the
onslaughts of its tiny foes。 In a recent article the editor of The Aeroplane
referred to the erstwhile terror of the air as follows： 〃The best of air…ships
is at the mercy of a second…rate aeroplane〃。 Enough to make Count
Zeppelin turn in his grave！
To…day in aerial warfare the air…ship is relegated to the task of observer。
As the 〃Blimp〃； the kite…balloon； the coast patrol； it scouts and takes
copious notes； but it leaves the fighting to a tiny； heavier…than…air machine
armed with a Lewis gun； and destructive attacks to those big bomb…
droppers； the British Handley Page； the German Gotha； the Italian Morane
tri…plane。
The war in the air has been fought with varying fortunes。 But； looking
back upon four years of war； we may say that； in spite of a slow start； we
have managed to catch up our adversaries； and of late we have certainly
dealt as hard knocks as we have received。 A great spurt of aerial activity
marked the opening of the year 1918。 From all quarters of the globe came
reports； moderate and almost bald in style； but between the lines of which
the average man could read word…pictures of the skill； prowess； and
ceaseless bravery of the men of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval
150
… Page 151…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
Air Service。 Recently there have appeared two official publications ＇1＇；
profusely illustrated with photographs； which give an excellent idea of the
work and training of members of the two corps。 Forewords have been
contributed respectively by Lord Hugh Cecil and Sir Eric Geddes； First
Lord of the Admiralty。 These publications lift a curtain upon not only the
activities of the two Corps； but the tremendous organization now
demanded by war in the air。
＇1＇ The Work and Training of the Royal Flying Corps and The Work
and Training of the Royal Naval Air Service。
All this to…day。 To…morrow the Handley Page and Gotha may be
occupying their respective niches in the museum of aerial antiquities； and
we may be all agog over the aerial passenger service to the United States
of America。
For truly； in the science of aviation a day is a generation； and three
months an eon。 When the coming of peace turns men's thoughts to the
development of aeroplanes for commerce and pleasure voyages； no one
can foretell what the future may bring forth。
At the time of writing； air attacks are still being directed upon London。
But the enemy find it more and more difficult to penetrate the barrage。
Sometimes a solitary machine gets through。 Frequently the whole
squadron of raiding aeroplanes is turned back at the coast。
As for the military advantage the Germans have derived； after nearly
four years of attacks by air； it may be set down as practically nil。 In raid
after raid they missed their so…called objectives and succeeded only in
killing noncombatants。 Far different were the aim and scope of the British
air offensives into Germany and into country occupied by German troops。
Railway junctions； ammunition dumps； enemy billets； submarine bases；
aerodromesthese were the targets for our airmen； who scored hits by the
simple but dangerous plan of flying so low that misses were almost out of
the question。
〃Make sure of your objective； even if you have to sit upon it。〃 Thus is
summed up； in popular parlance； the policy of the Royal Flying Corps and
Royal Naval Air Service。 And if justification were heeded of this strict
limitation of aim； it will be found in the substantial military losses
151
… Page 152…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
inflicted upon the enemy results which would never have been attained
had our airmen dissipated their energies on non…military objectives for the
purpose of inspiring terror in the civil population。
152