If he is made of stern stuff,
he attempts the latter feat without delay. The pursuer, if he
realises that he is out classed in pace, divines that his quarry
will start climbing if he intends to show fight, so he begins to
climb also.
Now success in this tactical move will accrue to the machine
which possesses the finest climbing powers, and here again, of
course, speed is certain to count. But, on the other hand, the
prowess of the aviator--the human element once more--must not be
ignored. The war has demonstrated very convincingly that the
personal quality of the aviator often becomes the decisive
factor.
A spirited contest in the air is one of the grimmest and most
thrilling spectacles possible to conceive, and it displays the
skill of the aviator in a striking manner. Daring sweeps,
startling wheels, breathless vol-planes, and remarkable climbs
are carried out. One wonders how the machine can possibly
withstand the racking strains to which it is subjected. The
average aeroplane demands space in which to describe a turn, and
the wheel has to be manipulated carefully and dexterously, an
operation requiring considerable judgment on the part of the
helmsman.
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