Central High School - Delphian Yearbook (Kalamazoo, MI)

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i The Fledglings Soon after the opening of Central's hangar in September, and while adjustments were being made, the Groundlings', of the previous year began demonstrating that they had come through their grass cuttingn period most successfully. The newer arrivals, doomed to floor work, or learning how to read the altitude meter, watched in awe as the Fledglings took the stick for the first 'time and hopped off on their Hrst test flight. The run .before taking off was considerably longer than necessary, but the class on the whole found courage to dip the tail in time, and the plane rose gracefully, taking to the ozone without a great deal of excitement. The flight commanders who were watching, agreed they had the possibilities of a full fledged flying squadron, while the members returned from their initial sail about the hangar, doubly confident. The machinery was immediately put in motion to organize. As a result, Gardner Ackley was elected the chief pilot of the green squadron, Dana Kelly, co-pilot, and Ruth Watson was chosen navigator. Commanding General, W. F. Head, appointed Miss Dorothy Scott the flight commander, and the officers, under her thoughtful and experienced knowledge of cross currents and air pockets, guided the plane through the first lap of their training cruise. In time, the majority of the squadron were making beautiful three point landings, while the rest of the members were showing skill in maneuvering their ship. ft t They celebrated their success by staging a Spanish Party in the dog-house at the Central airport, Friday evening, ,November 8. Severalumembers demonstrated their versatility away from the stick. J A burlesque by Sally Sergeant and Beatrice Vincent was preceded by a Spanish song and dance by Eleanor Swain and Vivian VVood. Gardner Ackley, chief pilot, with Eleanor Swain on his right wingu, led the grand march, the music being furnished by a group of classmen versatile in the melodies of rythm! From Bull Fight to favors, the assembly proved Spanish to the last farewell chord of the evening. ' It might have been the weather .... a bit unusual during the early period of flight training, for it was clear, cloudless, and completely lacing in cross currents. The fact remains, the Fledglings were sailing along without a sign of any trouble. Though none of the squadron were disobeying the laws they had learned in the ground school, nothing of real incident was happening to provethey were still green at the stick. In time, however, it happened! During a maneuver cruise, in which the entire squadron participated, they ran out of intellectual gas, and a serious catastrophe seemed imminent. It was averted only by the skill of chief-pilot, Gardner Ackley. He ordered every plane to the ground, signaling all pilots to do their best at a pan-cakef' landing. Though no one was seriously hurt, to prevent a panic, a more experienced flyer from the Senior Squadron was called in, and a corps of the Fledgling ilzgitail presented the group with a facinating bit of nerve relief entitled, K'Thank You, octor . This exciting experience did much to settle the group. A fine spirit of friend-P liness and mutual confidence has developed in the squadron which is certain to stand them in good stead throughout the remaining course of their training. Page Twenty

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