Chapter I: Front Matter

THE AEROPLANE SPEAKS

BY H. BARBER, A.F.Ae.S.

(CAPTAIN, ROYAL FLYING CORPS)

WITH 36 FULL PAGES OF "TYPES OF AEROPLANES" AND 87 SKETCHES AND DIAGRAMS

_FIFTH EDITION_

LONDON

McBRIDE, NAST & CO., LTD.

THE AEROPLANE SPEAKS.

_First edition--December, 1916_
_Second edition--February, 1917_
_Third edition--April, 1917_
_Fourth edition--July, 1917_
_Fifth edition--December, 1917_

FIRST REVIEWS:

=C. G. G. in the AEROPLANE:= "One hopes that the Subaltern
Flying Officer will appreciate the gift which the author has
given him out of his own vast store of experience, for the book
contains the concentrated knowledge of many expensive years in
tabloid form, or perhaps one should say in condensed milk form,
seeing that it is easy to swallow and agreeable to the taste,
as well as wholesome and nourishing. And, besides the young
service aviator, there are thousands of young men, and women
also, now employed in the aircraft industry, who will appreciate
far better the value of the finicky little jobs they are doing
if they will read this book and see how vital is their work to
the man who flies."

=THE FIELD:= "Entirely different from any other text-book on
the subject, not merely in its form, but in its capacity to convey
a knowledge of the principles and practice of flying. Undoubtedly
it is the best book on its subject."

=THE UNITED SERVICE GAZETTE:= "Should be in the hands of every
person interested in aviation."

=THE OUTLOOK:= "As amusing as it is instructive."

=THE MORNING POST:= "Should be read and re-read by the would
be and even the experienced pilot."

PRINTED IN ENGLAND BY
BILLING AND SONS, LIMITED
GUILDFORD

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_

PAGE

_PART I.--THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES AIR THEIR GRIEVANCES_ 1
_II.--THE PRINCIPLES, HAVING SETTLED THEIR DIFFERENCES,
FINISH THE JOB_ 15
_III.--THE GREAT TEST_ 27
_IV.--CROSS COUNTRY_ 38

CHAPTER I.--FLIGHT 55
II.--STABILITY AND CONTROL 70
III.--RIGGING 90
IV.--PROPELLERS 115
V.--MAINTENANCE 126

TYPES OF AEROPLANES 130

GLOSSARY 133

THE AEROPLANE SPEAKS