the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第39章
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〃The representatives of the Accidents Committee visited the scene of
the accident within a few hours of its occurrence； and made a careful
examination of the wrecked air…craft。 Evidence was also taken from the
eye…witnesses of the accident。
〃From the consideration of the evidence the Committee regards the
following facts as clearly established：
〃1。 The air…craft was built at Farnborough； by Mr。 S。 F。 Cody； in July；
1913。
〃2。 It was a new type； designed for the Daily Mail Hydroplane Race
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round Great Britain； but at the time of the accident had a land chassis
instead of floats。
〃3。 The wind at the time of the accident was about 10 miles per hour。
〃4。 At about 200 feet from the ground the air…craft buckled up and fell
to the ground。 A large piece of the lower left wing； composing the whole
of the front spar between the fuselage and the first upright； was picked up
at least 100 yards from the spot where the air…craft struck the ground。
〃5。 The fall of the air…craft was broken considerably by the trees； to
such an extent that the portion of the fuselage surrounding the seats was
practically undamaged。
〃6。 Neither the pilot nor passenger was strapped in。
〃0pinion。 The Committee is of opinion that the failure of the air…craft
was due to inherent structural weakness。
〃Since that portion of the air…craft in which the pilot and passenger
were seated was undamaged； it is conceivable their lives might have been
saved had they been strapped in。〃
This occasion was not the only time when the Accidents Investigation
Committee recommended the advisability of the airman being strapped to
his seat。 But many airmen absolutely refuse to wear a belt； just as many
cyclists cannot bear to have their feet made fast to the pedals of their
cycles by using toe…clips。
Mention of toe…clips brings us to other accidents which sometimes
befall airmen。 As we have seen in a previous chapter； Mr。 Hawker's
accident in Ireland was due to his foot slipping over the rudder bar of his
machine。 It is thought that the disaster to Mr。 Pickles' machine on 〃Aerial
Derby〃 day in 1913 was due to the same cause； and on one occasion Mr。
Brock was in great danger through his foot slipping on the rudder bar
while he was practising some evolutions at the London Aerodome。
Machines are generally flying at a very fast rate； and if the pilot loses
control of the machine when it is near the ground the chances are that the
aeroplane crashes to earth before he can right it。 Both Mr。 Hawker and Mr。
Pickles were flying low at the time of their accidents； and so their
machines were smashed； fortunately Mr。 Brock was comparatively high up
in the air； and though his machine rocked about and banked in an ominous
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manner； yet he was able to gain control just in the nick of time。
To prevent accidents of this kind the rudder bars could be fitted with
pedals to which the pilot's feet could be secured by toe…clips； as on bicycle
pedals。 Indeed； some makers of air…craft have already provided pedals
with toe…clips for the rudder bar。 Probably some safety device such as this
will soon be made compulsory on all machines。
We have already remarked that certain pilots do not pay sufficient heed
to the inspection of their machines before making a flight。 The difference
between pilots in this respect is interesting to observe。 On the great day at
Hendon； in 1913the Aerial Derby daythere were over a dozen pilots out
with their craft。
From the enclosure one could watch the airmen and their mechanics as
the machines were run out from the hangars on to the flying ground。 One
pilot walked beside his mechanics while they were running the machine to
the starting place； and watched his craft with almost fatherly interest。
Before climbing into his seat he would carefully inspect the spars； bolts；
wires； controls； and so on； then he would adjust his helmet and fasten
himself into his seat with a safety belt。
〃Surely with all that preliminary work he is ready to start；〃 remarked
one of the spectators standing by。 But no！ the engine must be run at
varying speeds； while the mechanics hold back the machine。 This
operation alone took three or four minutes； and all that the pilot proposed
to do was to circle the aerodrome two or three times。 An onlooker asked a
mechanic if there were anything wrong with that particular machine。
〃No！〃 was the reply； 〃but our governor's very faddy； you know！〃
And now for the other extreme！ Three mechanics emerged from a
hangar pushing a rather ungainly…looking biplane； which bumped over the
uneven ground。 The pilot was some distance behind； with cigarette in
mouth； joking with two or three friends。 When the machine was run out
into the open ground he skipped quickly up to it； climbed into the seat；
started the engine； waved a smiling 〃good…bye〃； and was off。 For all he
knew； that rather rough jolting of the craft while it was being removed
from the hangar might have broken some wire on which the safety of his
machine； and his life； depended。 The excuse cannot be made that his
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mechanics had performed this all…important work of inspection； for their
attention was centred on the daring 〃banking 〃 evolutions of some
audacious pilot in the aerodrome。
Mr。 C。 G。 Grey； the well…known writer on aviation matters； and the
editor of The Aeroplane； says； with regard to the need of inspection of air…
craft：
〃A pilot is simply asking for trouble if he does not go all over his
machine himself at least once a day； and； if possible； every time he is
starting for a flight。
〃One seldom hears； in these days； of a broken wheel or axle on a
railway coach； yet at the chief stopping places on our railways a man goes
round each train as it comes in； tapping the tires with a hammer to detect
cracks； feeling the hubs to see if there is any sign of a hot box； and looking
into the grease containers to see if there is a proper supply of lubricant。
There ought to be a similar inspection of every aeroplane every time it
touches the ground。 The jar of even the best of landings may fracture a
bolt holding a wire； so that when the machine goes up again the wire may
fly back and break the propeller； or get tangled in the control wires； or a
strut or socket may crack in landing； and many other things may happen
which careful inspection would disclose before any harm could occur。
Mechanics who inspected machines regularly would be able to go all over
them in a few minutes； and no time would be wasted。 As it is； at any
aerodrome one sees a machine come down； the pilot and passenger （a fare
or a pupil） climb out； the mechanics hang r
