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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0245.PDF
ARMCHAIR REFLECTIONS. By THE Fear at High Altitudes. THE question as to whether pilots experience any sense of fear or become possessed of strange fancies akin to fear, when at high altitudes, is a very interesting one, and has been brought to my mind by reading an article in the Penny Magazine, written by J. A. Drexel, the well- known pilot, who did much flying in this country in the early days, and whose experiences as there set down may be taken as being those of a man not likely to be led into romantic expressions for the sake of flowery journalism. I have never been at a high altitude myself, not being a pilot, and never having had the luck to be invited to share the pleasure of a trip to the stars when records are being sought, but I can quite believe that many sensations foreign to a man when on the earth may assail him when many thousands of feet in the air and away from everything that has become familiar. Mr. Drexel says that many pilots have an awful dread that their engine is going to stop, although this has never worried him to any extent, even though it has happened on several occasions. Experience has shown us that it does not matter so very much if the engine does stop, providing the machine is somewhere near or over an aerodrome, and many pilots now deliberately stop their engines as part of their regular flying. Referring to his own flying, Mr. Drexel gives an instance of an attack of nerves he once experienced, when try as he might, he could not get away from the idea that the tail of his machine had become detached from the fuselage, and was dangling by the wires somewhere behind. He could, in his imagination, distinctly hear the breaking of the woodwork, and although the machine was still flying in proper order, he could not prevent himself glancing round over his shoulder to assure himself that all was well. Again and again on the same flight did the same fearful thought assail him, and each time did he become still more certain that this time there was no doubt about it. Others, Mr. Drexel writes, become possessed of a certainty that one wing is breaking away, and in their DREAMER. fear they can plainly see it being forced gradually upwards, and wait for the moment when it shall break off altogether, and send them hurtling downwards. In stating his own experiences, Mr. Drexel opens up a subject which should be well worthy of discussion, and one on which the views of pilots would be welcome. It would not be detrimental to the opinion held of any pilot, should he admit that he had some kind of feeling akin to fear, or that he became possessed of strange fancies when at high altitudes. It would not mean that he was really afraid to be up there—nothing that could be construed into what we know as " cold feet." Take for instance the pilot who goes up to say, 15,000 ft., which should be quite high enough for our purpose, though I can quite understand that to add another 5,000 to this, must make all the difference, but 20,000 ft. is an exceptional altitude to-day, whatever it may become in the future. Imagine him starting away from the aerodrome to attempt this altitude. For the first two or three thousand feet his surroundings are familiar. He can see the aero drome and objects on the earth, and having been so many times at this altitude before, he is quite comfortable. Higher and higher he goes till some seven or eight thousand feet are registered, and things begin to appear different. He is probably by this time well above the clouds, and can see very little, if anything, of the earth beneath. Here the sense of loneliness begins to make itself felt, and it is possible that having very little else to occupy his mind, he will begin to think of things that were better not thought of at all. Everywhere is space, emptiness, blankness. He is but a speck in the vast expanse. By standing on the ground and watching a machine at a great height, we are able to judge by the apparent size of it, and by subconsciously comparing it with familiar objects near us, to estimate the altitude reached. At great altitudes, when the earth has faded from sight, and nothing but space remains, a pilot is able, by looking around him into the illimitable expanse, to form an im- FLYING AT HELIOPOLIS.—The first Hangar in Egypt to fly the British flag. The machine in front is Mr. W. Oswald Watts' 60 h.p. Blerlot single-seater, and behind inside may be noticed Marc Pourpe's Khartoum 60 h.p. Morane-Saulnier on which, half an hour after the photograph was taken, he started away and flew to Suez in 1 hr. 10 mins., very fine going. 245 I
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