The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Aeroplane Speaks, by H. Barber

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Title: The Aeroplane Speaks

Author: H. Barber

Posting Date: July 21, 2008 [EBook #818]
Release Date: February, 1997

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AEROPLANE SPEAKS ***

Produced by Charles Keller

THE AEROPLANE SPEAKS

By H. Barber

(Captain, Royal Flying Corps)

DEDICATED TO THE SUBALTERN FLYING OFFICER

MOTIVE

The reasons impelling me to write this book, the maiden effort of
my pen, are, firstly, a strong desire to help the ordinary man to
understand the Aeroplane and the joys and troubles of its Pilot; and,
secondly, to produce something of PRACTICAL assistance to the Pilot
and his invaluable assistant the Rigger. Having had some eight years'
experience in designing, building, and flying aeroplanes, I have hopes
that the practical knowledge I have gained may offset the disadvantage
of a hand more used to managing the "joy-stick" than the dreadful
haltings, the many side-slips, the irregular speed, and, in short, the
altogether disconcerting ways of a pen.

The matter contained in the Prologue appeared in the Field of May 6th,
13th, 20th, and 27th, 1916, and is now reprinted by the kind permission
of the editor, Sir Theodore Cook.

I have much pleasure in also acknowledging the kindness of Mr. C. G.
Grey, editor of the Aeroplane, to whom I am indebted for the valuable
illustrations reproduced at the end of this book.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

PART
I. THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES AIR THEIR GRIEVANCES
II. THE PRINCIPLES, HAVING SETTLED THEIR DIFFERENCES, FINISH THE JOB
III. THE GREAT TEST
IV. CROSS COUNTRY

CHAPTER
I. FLIGHT
II. STABILITY AND CONTROL
III. RIGGING
IV. PROPELLERS
V. MAINTENANCE

TYPES OF AEROPLANES

GLOSSARY

THE AEROPLANE SPEAKS

PROLOGUE

PART I. THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES AIR THEIR GRIEVANCES

The Lecture Hall at the Royal Flying Corps School for Officers was
deserted. The pupils had dispersed, and the Officer Instructor, more
fagged than any pupil, was out on the aerodrome watching the test of a