Popular Science Monthly 



"Another Army Aviator Killed" — 

 how often we see that headline. It must 

 not be supposed that these men are killed 

 while attempting to perform circus feats, 

 such as looping-the-loop. Despite many 

 newspaper reports to the contrary, they 

 are usually killed during the performance 

 of their duty — nothing more. 



What effect has all this on our aero- 

 nautical corps ? The officers of the Army 

 and Navy, detailed to aeronautical work, 

 are dissatisfied and disappointed, but still 

 hopeful. Some of them, who have seen 

 too many of their brother officers and 

 friends crash to their death, have voiced 

 their opinions. One officer is now being 

 court-martialled for refusing to fly ma- 

 chines which he knew were unsafe. 



At the last session of Congress, one 

 million dollars was appropriated for aero- 

 nautics. But, is the outlook better? Will 

 new machines be bought, a permanent 

 foundation built for the fleet of aero- 

 planes that the United States must and 



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eventually will have? How was this 

 needed appropriation spent ? A few 

 machines were bought, and a few more 

 may be ordered. Although aeroplanes 

 cost slightly more than a good automo- 

 bile, we have little to show for the ap- 

 propriation in the way of flying 

 machines. 



An aeronautic base dc luxe was built 

 at Pensacola, Florida. This station con- 

 sists of a navy yard and a naval reserva- 

 tion, containing two villages, the civilian 

 population of which totals one thousand 

 and sixty-nine people. As this station is 

 as large as some of the large navy yards 

 in full operation throughout the country, 

 many of the officers who had been de- 

 tailed for flying service were assigned to 

 administrative and executive duty in 

 order to keep up and maintain this ex- 

 pensive plant. AH this for half a dozen 

 ■aeroplanes of doubtful worth^and a new 

 and costly dirigible of an antiquated 

 type ! Fine for the people of Florida, but 



LaiiiiiiL; 1 ;igc at the Pensacola aero base. Many of these fine appearing machines are 

 antiquated and unsafe, fit only for the junk-heap 



