THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



,9.", 



mary instruction in meteorology and as- 

 tronomy and devotes considerable time to 

 military drill and calisthenics. From rev- 

 eille, at 5.30 a. m., to tattoo, at 9.30, there 

 is serious and interesting work. 



The next step is to one of the great 

 new flying schools, where instruction in 

 actual flying is given. First comes the 

 dual work with the instructor, beginning 

 with long "hops" into the air and down 

 again, to accustom the pupil to the vari- 

 ous controls, such as the rudder, elevator, 

 throttle and switch, and to the general 

 "feel" of an airplane. Baffling enough at 

 first, mastery of this work affords an in- 

 stinctive control of the machine, so that 

 whatever happens later he will not lose 

 his head and make the wrong move. 



WHEN THE CADET FIRST FLIES ALONE 



Gradually, as the cadet's skill and con- 

 fidence increase, he is given increasing 

 responsibility for the machine, though the 

 instructor remains with him to save him 

 from a slip. When at last he has demon- 

 strated absolute control of himself and 

 his plane, he is ready for the third stage, 

 the proud moment when he leaves the 

 ground alone. He is held back, however, 

 rather than hurried forward into this, on 

 the theory that it is far better to spend 

 a few extra days in intensive instruction 

 than it is to lose either a cadet or a plane, 

 both of which are now part of America's 

 air capital. The infrequency of fatal 

 accidents in America's great training 

 program has more than justified this 

 caution. 



The next stage is known as solo work, 

 or flying alone. Backed by the funda- 

 mental training of the ground school and 

 the dual instruction, the cadet is fully 

 qualified to take the air by himself. His 

 every move is noted and suggestions for 

 improvement given on his return to earth. 

 Gradually, he is allowed to lengthen out 

 the distance and the height of his flights, 

 until he is easily executing 30-mile cross- 

 country trips and the simpler evolutions 

 at an altitude around 10,000 feet. 



By now he has completed the require- 

 ments for his designation as a "reserve 

 military aviator," which automatically 

 carries with it his first commission, that 

 of a second lieutenant, with a salary of 

 $1,700 a year. How long it has taken 



*^$F 



Photograph by Central News Photo Service 

 A KITE BALLOON ON OBSERVATION DUTY 

 OVER AN AMERICAN WARSHIP TO 

 WHICH IT IS ATTACHED 



The three round-bottom cones are air anchors, 

 which serve to keep the basket of the observer 

 stable and facilitate his careful watch for sub- 

 marines. These canvas stabilizers constitute 

 the tail of the kite balloon. 



