the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第26章
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caused him to fall in the sea。
There are several reasons why air pilots go out of their course； even
though they are supplied with most efficient compasses。 One cause of
misdirection is the prevalence of a strong side wind。 Suppose； for example；
an airman intended to fly from Harwich to Amsterdam。 A glance at the
map will show that the latter place is almost due east of Harwich。 We will
assume that when the pilot leaves Earth at Harwich the wind is blowing to
the east； that is； behind his back。
Now； however strong a wind may be； and in whatever direction it
blows； it always appears to be blowing full in a pilot's face。 Of course this
is due to the fact that the rush of the machine through the air 〃makes a
wind〃； as we say。 Much the same sort of thing is experienced on a bicycle；
when out cycling we very generally seem to have a 〃head〃 wind。
Suppose during his journey a very strong side wind sprang；up over the
North Sea。 The pilot would still keep steering his craft due east； and it
must be remembered that when well out at sea there would be no familiar
landmarks to guide him； so that he would have to rely solely on his
compass。 It is highly probable that he would not feel the change of wind at
all； but it is even more probable that when land was ultimately reached he
would be dozens of miles from his required landing…place。
Quite recently Mr。 Alexander Gross； the well…known maker of aviation
instruments； who is even more famous for his excellent aviation maps；
claims to have produced an anti…drift aero…compass； which has been
specially designed for use on aeroplanes。 The chief advantages of this
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compass are that the dial is absolutely steady； the needle is extremely
sensitive and shows accurately the most minute change of course； the anti…
drift arrangement checks the slightest deviation from the straight course；
and it is fitted with a revolving sighting arrangement which is of great
importance in the adjustment of the instrument。
Before the airman leaves Earth he sets his compass to the course to be
steered； and during the flight he has only to see that the two boldly…marked
north pointson the dial and on the outer ringcoincide to know that he is
keeping his course。 The north points are luminous； so that they are clearly
visible at night。
It is quite possible that if some of our early aviators had carried such a
highly…efficient compass as this； their lives might have been saved； for
they would not have gone so far astray in their course。 The anti…drift
compass has been adopted by various Governments； and it now forms part
of the equipment of the Austrian military aeroplane。
When undertaking cross…country flights over strange land an airman
finds his way by a specially…prepared map which is spread out before him
in an aluminium map case。 From the illustration here given of an aviator's
map； you will see that it differs in many respects from the ordinary map。
Most British aviation maps are made and supplied by Mr Alexander Gross；
of the firm of 〃Geographia〃； London。
Many airmen seem to find their way instinctively； so to speak； and
some are much better in picking out landmarks； and recognizing the
country generally； than others。 This is the case even with pedestrians； who
have the guidance of sign…posts； street names； and so on to assist them。
However accurately some people are directed； they appear to have the
greatest difficulty in finding their way； while others； more fortunate；
remember prominent features on the route； and pick out their course as
accurately as does a homing pigeon。
Large sheets of water form admirable 〃sign…posts〃 for an airman； thus
at Kempton Park； one of the turning…points in the course followed in the
〃Aerial Derby〃； there are large reservoirs； which enable the airmen to
follow the course at this point with the greatest ease。 Railway lines； forests；
rivers and canals； large towns； prominent structures； such as gasholders；
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chimney…stalks； and so on； all assist an airman to find his way。
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CHAPTER XLIII The First Airman to Fly Upside
Down
Visitors to Brooklands aerodrome on 25th September； 1913； saw one
of the greatest sensations in this or any other century； for on that date a
daring French aviator； M。 Pegoud； performed the hazardous feat of flying
upside down。
Before we describe the marvellous somersaults which Pegoud made；
two or three thousand feet above the earth； it would be well to see what
was the practical use of it all。 If this amazing airman had been performing
some circus trick in the air simply for the sake of attracting large crowds
of people to witness it； and therefore being the means of bringing great
monetary gain both to him and his patrons； then this chapter would never
have been written。 Indeed； such a risk to one's life； if there had been
nothing to learn from it； would have been foolish。
No； Pegoud's thrilling performance must be looked at from an entirely
different standpoint to such feats of daring as the placing of one's head in
the jaws of a lion； the traversing of Niagara Falls by means of a tight…rope
stretched across them； and other similar senseless acts； which are utterly
useless to mankind。
Let us see what such a celebrated airman as Mr。 Gustav Hamel said of
the pioneer of upside…down flying。
〃His looping the loop； his upside…down flights； his general acrobatic
feats in the air are all of the utmost value to pilots throughout the world。
We shall have proof of this； I am sure； in the near future。 Pegoud has
shown us what it is possible to do with a modern machine。 In his first
attempt to fly upside down he courted death。 Like all pioneers； he was
taking liberties with the unknown elements。 No man before him had
attempted the feat。 It is true that men have been upside down in the air； but
they were turned over by sudden gusts of wind； and in most cases were
killed。 Pegoud is all the time rehearsing accidents and showing how easy it
is for a pilot to recover equilibrium providing he remains perfectly calm
and clear…headed。 Any one of his extraordinary positions might be brought
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about by adverse elements。 It is quite conceivable that a sudden gust of
wind might turn the machine completely over。 Hitherto any pilot in such
circumstances would give himself up for lost。 Pegoud has taught us what
to do in such a case。 。 。 。 his flights have given us all a new confidence。
〃In a gale the machine might be upset at many different angles。
Pegoud has shown us that it is easily possible to recover from such
predicaments。 He has dealt with nearly every kind of awkward position
into which one might be driven in a gale of wind； or in a flight over
mountains where air…currents prevail。
〃He has thus gained evidence which will be of the utmost value to
present and future pilots； and prove a factor of signal importance in the
preservation of life in the air。〃
Such words as these； coming from a man of Mr。 Hamel's reputation as
an aviator； clearly show us that M。 Pegoud has a life…saving mission for
airmen throughout the world。
Let us stand； in imagination； with the enormous crowd of spectators
who invaded the Surrey aerodrome on 25th September； and the two
following days； in 1913。
What an enormous crowd it was！ A line of motor…cars bordered the
track for half a mile； and many of the spectators were busy city men who
had taken a hasty lunch and rushed off down to Weybridge to see a little
French airman risk his life in the air。 Thousands of foot passengers toiled
along the dusty road from the paddock to the hangars； and thousands more；
who did not care to pay the shilling entrance fee； stood closely packed on
the high ground outside the aerodrome。
Biplanes and monoplanes came driving through the air from Hendon；
and airmen of world…wide fame； such as Sopwith； Hamel； Verrier； and
Hucks； had gathered together as disciples of the great life…saving
missionary。 Stern critics these！ Men who would ruthlessly expose any
〃faked〃 performance if need were！
And where is the little airman while all this crowd is gathering？ Is he
very excited？ He has never before been in England。 We wonder if his
amazing coolness and admirable control over his nerves will desert him
among strange surroundings。
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Probably Pegoud was the coolest man in all that vast crowd。 He
seemed to want to hide himself from public gaze。 Most of his time； was
taken up in signing post…cards for people who had been fortunate enough
to discover him in a little restaurant near which his shed was situated。
At last his Bleriot monoplane was wheeled out； and he was strapped；
or harnessed； into his seat。 〃Was the machine a 'freak' monoplane？〃 we
wondered。
We were soon assured that such was not the case。 Indeed； as Pegoud
himself says： 〃I have used a standard type of monoplane on purpose。
Almost every aeroplane； if it is properly balanced； has just as good a
chance as mine； and I lay particular str
