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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 1209.PDF
DECEMBER 21, 1912. SUPPLEMENT TO « 35 &riff ,rt: JP* # [/OGHT •>'• £?• ##*# * •.# •..•'•;.•: ...-••• \ii' W 1# *& r % JS .<«&» ff HOW TO F BEING AN A. S. EDITOR'S NOTE.—Some time since we received by post this manuscript, witli a covering letter from a little girl, who explained that she had found it amongst some old papers belonging to her elder brother. As it had reference to flying, and as her elder brother was, or rather had been in his time a famous flying man, she thought perhaps it might be more useful to us than to the waste-paper basket. We publish it for what it is worth, having previously ascertained from careful inquiry that the school mentioned in these notes is no longer in existence. March 27th.—Hard up ! Good idea ! Will have a shot for next Daily Mail ,£10,000 prize. Must learn to fly. 28th.— Going town to inform boys of my decision. 29th.—Boys very enthusiastic yesterday. Am staying in bed to-day as there is such a thing as reaction. 30th.—Going to aerodrome. 31st.—Went aerodrome yesterday—got particulars— saw instructor—signed on—paid fee—looked at school aeroplanes—touched them. Looks quite easy ! April 1st.—Got "digs" near aerodrome, liought aviator's suit, goggles, altimeter, fur gloves, helmet, and all the different things that the best airmen use. Went aero drome—no flying. Wasn't any wind either. Instructor told me there were such things as remous. Suppose that's some sort of weird state of the air that one can't see, but that one feels when one gets near enough to it. I like an element of mystery in things! Sat in machine and pulled things about, smoked a lot of cigarettes because it is ap parently the thing to do. Deter mined to fly to Brooklands first time up, just to show the other boys the sort of stuff I'm made of. 2nd.—Got up 8 a.m.—went aerodrome — nobody about — mooned about until 10.30, then met other pupils. Told me they had all been out at 5.30 a.m. Dirty trick that! No flying rest of day. 3rd.—Woke 4 o'clock. Left digs, 4.2 a.m. Beastly rotten morning — cold and very wet. Determined to show them I am in earnest. Was first at aero- " Bought'avlator's suit." drome so took down shutters <r.i.t. EXTRACT FROM THE DIARY OF S. TRELAWNEY DINKS, ESQ. of hangar. Beastly things shutters ! Nearly let one down on machine. Waited till 8.30— very lonely, so fooled around with steel wire and pliers just for exercise. Went for break fast. Very wet and miserable. Returned aerodrome 10.30. Everyone laughed except instructor—who told me not to mess about in future. Suppose shall make a start soon. 4th.—Fine morning. All out—my first lesson — cheero ! Clambered into pilot's seat—monoplane this was—caught overalls on jagged bolt. Tore quite 12 inches out of seat —my trousers, not the aeroplane's. Rather proud if anything—honourable scars and all that sort of thing, don't you know. Instructor said "All you've got to do is this," and he waggled the lever about. Am beginning to understand now—the lever thing must be the thing you do it with. Then he said " Keep your tail down." It was as much as I could do all the time to keep my pecker up. " Now you know what to do, don't you ? " 1 suppose I must have said "Yes," for someone twiddled the propeller thing round in front, and I thought the end of the world had come. The engine made a horrible noise, and fairly took my breath away. Started thinking that perhaps I shouldn't be able to think with that noise going on. Following conversation in shouts: " Have I got to go out in the rain?" Instructor said "That's not rain. That's only castor oil coming off the engine." Nice m w overalls getting very greasy. Instructor bellowed "Advance lever." Took that to be an aviator's battle- cry, so shouted " Hoorah!" and waved my hand in castor oil shower bath. Ex pected to bound forward into the air so shut my eyes. Nothing happened. The thing in front stopped and everyone started talking at once. Recognised from the instructor's language that he was at least a gentleman. How could I be expected to know that " Advance lever " was not a battle- cry sort of expression ? Wind got up, so pushed machine back in shed. Rather good morning's work. 5th.—Wet and windy. Spent day washing out castor oil. 6th.—Ditto. Ditto. 7th.—Ditto. Bought wrist watch. 8th.—Ditto. Sent town for large supply of cigarettes. " Waved my hand in castor-oil shower bath."
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