He should understand
the cam action, whereby the valves are
lifted at the proper time; what the effect of the
spark advance means; the throttling of the engine;
air admission and supply; the regulation
of the carbureter; its mechanism and construction;
the propeller should be studied, and its action
at various speeds.
STUDYING THE ACTION OF THE MACHINE.--Then
comes the study on the seat of the machine itself.
It will be a novel sensation. Before him is the
steering wheel, if it should be so equipped. Turning
it to the right, swings the vertical tail plane
so the machine will turn to the right. Certainly,
he knows that; but how far must he turn the
wheel to give it a certain angle.
It is not enough to know that a lever or a wheel
when moved a certain way will move a plane a
definite direction. He should learn to know
instinctively, how FAR a movement to make to get
a certain result in the plane itself, and under running
conditions, as well.
Suppose we have an automobile, running at the
rate of ten miles an hour, and the chauffeur turns
the steering wheel ten degrees. He can do so with
perfect safety; but let the machine be going forty
miles an hour, and turn the wheel ten degrees,
and it may mean an accident. In one case the
machine is moving 14 1/2 feet a second, and in the
other instance 58 feet.
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