But in an aerial duel discretion is flung to the winds. The
pilot jambs his helm over in his keen struggle to gain the
superior position, causing the machine to groan and almost to
heel over. The stem stresses of war have served to reveal the
perfection of the modern aeroplane together with the remarkable
strength of its construction. In one or two instances, when a
victor has come to earth, subsequent examination has revealed the
enormous strains to which the aeroplane has been subjected. The
machine has been distorted; wires have been broken--wires which
have succumbed to the enormous stresses which have been imposed
and have not been snapped by rifle fire. One well-known British
airman, who was formerly a daring automobilist, confided to me
that a fight in the air "is the finest reliability trial for an
aeroplane that was ever devised!"
In these desperate struggles for aerial supremacy the one party
endeavours to bring his opponent well within the point-blank
range of his armament: the other on his part strives just as
valiantly to keep well out of reach. The latter knows fully well
that his opponent is at a serious disadvantage when beyond
point-blank range, for the simple reason that in sighting the
rifle or automatic pistol, it is difficult, if not impossible
while aloft, to judge distances accurately, and to make the
correct allowances for windage.
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