Photograph by Edwin L,evick 



A TRIO OF PLANKS AT A TRAINING CAMP FOR AVIATORS 



In the "air colleges," which the government has established recently, the time between 

 matriculation and graduation is measured in months instead of years, but if the period of 

 education is shorter in these schools than in regular colleges the expense is in inverse ratio. 

 A conservative estimate of the cost of training an aviator is from $10,000 to $20,000. Great 

 tracts of land are required for ground schools; many airplanes must be kept on hand, as the 

 breakage is heavy, and repairs are often tedious ; motor trucks and motorcycles are neces- 

 sary subsidiary equipment. 



demolishing both, but not touching either 

 pilots, being worth some $15,000 or 

 $25,000, but no one seemed to worry — 

 it's very much a matter of course. The 

 monitor was a little peeved because he 

 will be short of machines for a few days, 

 but that was all. I've seen as many as 

 ten machines flat on their backs, or with 

 tails high in the air, on one field at the 

 same time. 



For myself, I haven't capoted or busted 

 any wood since the Bleriot days, but I'm 

 knocking on the wooden table now. On 

 several occasions it has been only luck 

 that saved me, as I've made many rotten 

 landings. 



Well, to get back to the diary. After 

 finishing at Avord, I waited around for 

 two days to get papers fixed up, re- 

 quested and obtained a permission, and 



97 



