文档介绍：THE AEROPLANE SPEAKS
THE AEROPLANE
SPEAKS
BY H. BARBER (CAPTAIN, ROYAL FLYING
CORPS)
1
THE AEROPLANE SPEAKS
MOTIVE
The reasons impelling me to write this book, the maiden effort of my
pen, are, firstly, a strong desire to help the ordinary man to understand the
Aeroplane and the joys and troubles of its Pilot; and, secondly, to produce
something of PRACTICAL assistance to the Pilot and his invaluable
assistant the Rigger. Having had some eight years' experience in designing,
building, and flying aeroplanes, I have hopes that the practical knowledge
I have gained may offset the disadvantage of a hand more used to
managing the ``joy- stick'' than the dreadful haltings, the many side-slips,
the irregular speed, and, in short, the altogether disconcerting ways of a
pen.
The matter contained in the Prologue appeared in the Field of May 6th,
13th, 20th, and 27th, 1916, and is now reprinted by the kind permission of
the editor, Sir Theodore Cook.
I have much pleasure in also acknowledging the kindness of Mr. C. G.
Grey, editor of the Aeroplane, to whom I am indebted for the valuable
illustrations reproduced at the end of this book.
2
THE AEROPLANE SPEAKS
PROLOGUE
PART I
THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES AIR THEIR GRIEVANCES
The Lecture Hall at the Royal Flying Corps School for Officers was
deserted. The pupils had dispersed, and the Officer Instructor, more fagged
than any pupil, was out on the aerodrome watching the test of a new
machine.
Deserted, did I say? But not so. The lecture that day had been upon the
Elementary Principles of Flight, and they lingered yet. Upon the
Blackboard was the illustration you see in the frontispiece.
``I am the side view of a Surface,'' it said, mimicking the tones of the
lecturer. ``Flight is secured by driving me through the air at an angle
inclined to the direction of motion.''
``Quite right,'' said the Angle. ``That's me, and I'm the famous Angle
of Incidence.''
``And,'' continued th