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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 0105.PDF
JANUARY 9, 1936. FLIGHT. 53 normal pilot carries with him to instrument flying the perception of flight attitude which he acquired during horizon flying. These perceptions are directly related to outside observations, and when such are lacking the per ceptions are deprived of their safe and only foundation. An absolute faith in the instruments is now of fundamental importance, and only when this profound confidence has been acquired can the pilot completely disregard any form of " perception." The experience gained at the Danish Naval Flying School has confirmed that instrument flying, when taught to a novice, is grasped better, and that within an equal number of hours he obtains greater accuracy and better routine than a pupil who has been trained first in horizon flying. Results have shown that, once a pupil is fully proficient in instrument flying, further training in horizon flying does not present any difficulties, while the necessary recurrent instrument-flying training is brought down to an absolute minimum. . It thus seems that the difficulties attached to the system of tuition are decidedly less than those attached to the old system. They amount chiefly to a tendency of the pupil to '' hang on " to the instruments instead of using the natural horizon. This, however, is easy to correct. When instrument flying is taught the natural horizon is "removed " by closing the hood. When horizon flying is taught (after instrument flying) the instruments are in turn "removed" by covering up the dials of all the flying instruments with paper. They are uncovered again when the instructor feels confident that the pupil has fully grasped horizon flying—which is just before his first solo flight. During further training it is very easy for the in structor, at refresher dual control, to find out whether the pupil flies '' naturally '' or whether he is inclined to '' hang on" to the instruments. The Routine Every year when a new class starts in the R.D.N. Air Service School the pupils are first taken aloft a certain number of trips merely as passengers, and may in this way get up to three hours in the air, during which time they get a first-hand and agreeable impression of flying in general. After this short period they are giveji preliminary dual in both horizon flying and instrument flying—about five hours of each, totalling up about ten hours' in struction. The object of this instruction is not to start training but to give the instructor an opportunity as early as possible to weed out those pupils who are not fitted for further military flying training or who are not considered able to complete the training with satisfactory results. After this period the accepted pupils continue half a year with theoretical and physical training, but without doing any flying at ail. In this theoretical training it is an advantage, of course, that the pupils have previously been made acquainted with the aircraft, its flying controls and its instruments. When the theoretical training is completed the actual flying training starts right away with instrument flying under the hood. The type of training aircraft used is the Avro Tutor, and the instruments include a Reid and Sigrist bank and turn indicator and a pitch indicator. Only when the pupils have acquired good routine and can complete with accuracy a long triangular course (up to one hour's duration) in bumpy weather, and when they with perfect certainty can take the aircraft out of a spin—only then is the hood opened up again. This period takes from twelve to fifteen hours of instruction. Hereafter the train ing is continued with horizon flying which from time to time is supplemented by recurrent instrument flying, either under the hood or during actual cloud flying. Seaplane Training When the training on the Tutor terminates and the pupils have completed all the various tests for the certi ficate, they are transferred to seaplanes, on which they are trained until they can repeat all the previous certificate tests with the exception of aerobatics and spins, but with the inclusion of water manoeuvring. By this time they have obtained an average of 125 hours in the air, and of these about twenty-five are instrument flying. Certain objections may be raised. It may be asked whether a pilot trained first in instrument flying can ever be absolutely superior in horizon flying and come to feel as confident and unified with his aircraft as was once con sidered necessary. Will this " instrument pilot " not con tinually '' hang on " to his instruments and thus feel restrained in his flying, which should ultimately reach the point of being completely intuitive or instinctive? Nothing, however, seems to sustain this objection. The experiences show that pilots trained in this way are in every respect as capable as pilots trained by the old system. They do not feel any restraints or limita tions, but seem equally at ease whether they fly by the natural horizon or suddenly switch over to use the instru ments. At the Danish Naval Air Service School the system of training which has just been expounded is going to be con tinued in the future. Present results, all things con sidered, clearly indicate that it presents the greatest advantages together with the least inconvenience, and that it brings the desired results in the shortest possible way. Forthcoming Events Club Secretaries and others are invited to send particulars of important fixtures for inclusion in the list. Jan. 9. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan Feb. Feb 14. 16. 20. 22 22. 28. 33 i. 12. R.Ae.S. Students' Section Discussion : "Stressed-skin Construction," 7 p.m., R.Ae.S. Library, 7, Albemarle Street, London, W.l. Irish Aero Club: Annual Dance, Gresham Hotel, Dublin. R.Ae.S. (Coventry Section) Lecture: "Development in Centrifugallv Cast Piston Rings for Modern Aero Engines," by Mr. P. R. Twigger, 8 p.m., Armstrong Siddeley Canteen. R.Ae.S. Lecture: " The Theory of Alloy Structures," by Prof. W. L. Bragg. Institution of Electrical Engineers, 6.30 p.m. Royal United Service Institution Lecture: "The Expansion of the Royal Air Force," by Air Marshal Sir C. L. N. Newall, at 3 p.m. Civil Aviation Service Corps, No. 1 (London) Sqn- Dance the Horns, Kennington, 8.30 p.m. R.Ae.S. Students' Section Discussion : " Sailplanes," 7 p.m., R.Ae.S. Library, 7, Albemarle Street, London, W.l. and 31. Aerodrome Owners' Association: Annul! Conference and Aerodrome Equipment Exhibition British Industries House, Marble Arch. London. R.Ae.S. Lecture: "Airscrew Development" by Dr. H. C. Watts. Institution of Electrical Engineers 6.30 p.m. Yorkshire Aviation Services Country Club ! Dinner and Dance, 8 p.m.. Grand Hotel, Harrogate. Feb. 17. R.Ae.S. Lecture: "The Boundary Layer," by Prot. L. Bairstow. Institution of Electrical Engineers 6.30 p.m. Feb. 20. R.Ae.S. (Coventry Section) Lecture: " Variable-pitch Propeller," by Mr. T. E. Beacbam, 8 p.m., Arm strong Siddeley Canteen. Feb. 28. Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Cub: Annual Aviation Ball. Mar. 10. Roval United Service Institution Lecture: "The Development of Civil Aviation " by Lt. Col. F. C. Shelmerdine, at 3 pin. Mar. 19. R.Ae.S. (Coventry Section) Lecture: "Type-Testing an Aircraft" by Fit. Lt. Bulman, 8 p.m., Armstron I Siddeley Canteen. Mar. 23. R.Ae.S. Lecture: "Welding," by R. H. Dobson Institution of Electrical Engineers, 6.30 p.m. Mar. 26-29. Yorkshire Gliding Club: Members' Meeting. April 16. R.Ae.S. (Coventry Section) Lecture: "Aircraft Instruments," by Mr. J. E. Chorlton, 8 p m., Arm strong Siddeley Canteen. April 20. " New Light on Strength of Materials Afforded by Modern Physics," by Dr. H. J. Gough. Institution of Electrical Engineers, 6.30 p.m. May 15-18. Yorkshire Gliding Club: Open Meeting and Competitions May 15.-June 1. Stockholm Aero Show. June 6. R.A.F. Flying Club: Annual Display, June 20. Brooklands Flying Club: " At Home." August 1-2. Yorkshire Gliding Club: Open Meeting. August 15-30. Yorkshire Gliding Club: Open Meeting and Competitions.
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