Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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The Spectator I7 An Aviation Meet By W. R. T. ,II n HE first heavier-than-air machines I have ever seen, aside from Russ' and those in pictures, were at an aviation meet at Asbury Park this summer. The meet was scheduled to run only a week, but on account of adverse weather conditions it proved so unsatisfactory that it was cotinued for three more days. On the first two of these days a high wind was blowing, which meant no Hying, for all the aviators seem to agree with Curtiss, who said: When you see kites in the air you don't see me. Some of the air-men, disgusted- at the weather, leftg only Hoxsey, Johnstone and Brookins remained for the closing day. The last day of the meet dawned clear and bright, with hardly a breath of air blowing-an ideal day for flying. When we arrived at the field, the three aviators were busily engaged in testing wires and supports and in filling up with gasoline, oil and water. Promptly at the scheduled time, johnstone's machine, a Wright biplane, was pulled out on the field. After Johnstone had cranked his motor he took his place in the driver's seat, preparatory to starting. He turned on more gasoline and the motor responded with a roar, sending the propellors around so quickly that they looked like one unbroken surface. The ma-

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I6 The Spectator i f But she stopped. It seemed to murmur. She stopped to listen and it whispered, NVe have been so much to each otherfl She was about to take it up again when the other violin made answer to her own, But we will play together. just then there was a knock at the door. She knew who it was and called to him to enter. He opened the door and stepped in, but hesitated. She was kneeling just oposite him, between the two violins. Rising slowly, she advanced to meet him. I have come for your answer, he said softly. Her head drooped, she struggled and finally won. Raising her head again she answered slowly, We will play togetherf, . -iii. I I V, Q ,. .

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I8 The Spectator Chine ran gently along the ground, and then sailed gracefully and majestically into the air. It looked exactly like a great bird, that has to run along the ground until it acquires momen- tum enough to rise into the air. On this flight Johnstone did not exhibit any skill, but con- tented himself with flying around the field a .couple of times. Hoxsey came next, but his rudder wires got crossed and his machine refused to rise. He then took another machine and had better luck. He steadily rose in the air until he reached a height of about 1,500 feet, and then started seaward and was soon lost to sight. During his absence Johnstone went up again. On this flight he cut figure eights and turned around so sharply that his machine seemed to stand on end. At the close of this flight, which had lasted about thirty minutes, he gave the crowd an exhibition of the ease and accuracy with which he could handle his frail-looking craft. He came along at about thirty-five miles an hour, shooting up and down like a small boat at sea, now so close to the ground that the tips of his planes plowed up the dust, now thirty feet in the air. He repeated this at least a dozen times without the slightest mis- hap. In the meanwhile Hoxsey had returned'and we were treat- ed to the magnificent sight of two aeroplanes in the air at once. Several other flights by these two men followed, but as I was by this time looking for an unusual exhibition of the aviator's skill, I was slightly disappointed in them. VVhen a large part of the crowd had departed, Brookins appeared for his only flight that day. His flight did not make us a bit sorry that we had remained to the end. He steadily arose until he had attained a height of a little over 2,000 feet. Then, shutting off his engine, he came swooping earthward like some giant bird after its prey. People began toflook anxious, fearing an accident when he attempted to land. But they did not know Brookins. Under perfect control, his ma- chine slid swiftly along the ground for some distance, and then came gently to a stop. This sensational flight of Brookins ended the meet. The crowd rapidly left the field, all seemingly impressed with a firm conviction that man has at last conquered the air. I myself am