Three Years' Experience of Flying

Extract

The primary object of the paper which I had the honour to be asked to read' to you this evening, is not to be a mere recital of my experiences during the three years I have been actively piloting an aeroplane, although it has the title “Three Years’ Flying Experience” but I hope to be able to give to you a few points which should be of general interest, and perhaps beneficial to fellow–pilots and to others who have so kindly come here to–night to hear this paper.

I will first give you a few instances of my earliest failures, their causes and remedies. In fact, the solution of most of my troubles, when I look back, may be placed under the simple headings of inexperience and want of confidence, which, I suppose, are very nearly one and the same thing. The machines of three years ago, jt is true, were not so efficient, nor so safe, but that fact has really, in my opinion, no more than quite a small bearing on the results of those days.