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took such a risk。
But notwithstanding this lack of encouragement he practised hard for a
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
few days by hanging in an inverted position。 Meanwhile his mechanics
were working night and day in strengthening the wings of the monoplane；
and fitting it with a slightly larger elevator。
On 24th November； 1913； he decided to 〃try his luck〃 at the London
aerodrome。 He was harnessed into his seat； and； bidding his friends
farewell； with the words 〃wish me luck〃； he went aloft。 For nearly half an
hour he climbed upward； and swooped over the aerodrome in wide circles；
while his friends far below were watching every action of his machine。
Suddenly an alarming incident occurred。 When about a mile high in
the air the machine tipped downwards and rushed towards Earth at terrific
speed。 Then the tail of the machine came up； and the 〃baby airman〃 was
hanging head downwards。
But at this point the group of airmen standing in the aerodrome were
filled with alarm； for it was quite evident to their experienced eyes that the
monoplane was not under proper control。 Indeed； it was actually side…
slipping； and a terrible disaster appeared imminent。 For hundreds of feet
the young pilot； still hanging head downwards； was crashing to Earth； but
when down to about 1200 feet from the ground the machine gradually
came round； and Mr。 Temple descended safely to Earth。
The airman afterwards told his friends that for several seconds he
could not get the machine to answer the controls； and for a time he was
falling at a speed of 100 miles an hour。 In ordinary circumstances he
thought that a dive of 500 feet after the upside…down stretch should get
him the right way up； but it really took him nearly 1500 feet。 Fortunately；
however； he commenced the dive at a great altitude； and so the distance
side…slipped did not much matter。
It is sad to relate that Mr。 Temple lost his life in January； 1914； while
flying at Hendon in a treacherous wind。 The actual cause of the accident
was never clearly understood。 He had not fully recovered from an attack
of influenza； and it was thought that he fainted and fell over the control
lever while descending near one of the pylons； when the machine 〃turned
turtle〃； and the pilot's neck was broken。
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER XLV Accidents and their Cause
〃Another airman killed！〃 〃There'll soon be none of those flying
fellows left！〃 〃Far too risky a game！〃 〃Ought to be stopped by law！〃
How many times have we heard these； and similar remarks； when the
newspapers relate the account of some fatality in the air！ People have
come to think that flying is a terribly risky occupation； and that if one
wishes to put an end to one's life one has only to go up in a flying machine。
For the last twenty years some of our great writers have prophesied that
the conquest of the air would be as costly in human life as was that of the
sea； but their prophecies have most certainly been wrong； for in the wreck
of one single vessel； such as that of the Titanic； more lives were lost than
in all the disasters to any form of aerial craft。
Perhaps some of our grandfathers can remember the dread with which
many nervous people entered； or saw their friends enter； a train。 Travellers
by the railway eighty or ninety years ago considered that they took their
lives in their hands； so to speak； when they went on a long journey； and a
great sigh of relief arose in the members of their families when the news
came that the journey was safely ended。 In George Stephenson's days there
was considerable opposition to the institution of the railway； simply on
account of the number of accidents which it was anticipated would take
place。
Now we laugh at the fears of our great…grandparents； is it not probable
that our grandchildren will laugh in a similar manner at our timidity over
the aeroplane？
In the case of all recent new inventions in methods of locomotion there
has always been a feeling among certain people that the law ought to
prohibit such inventions from being put into practice。
There used to be bitter opposition to the motor…car； and at first every
mechanically…driven vehicle had to have a man walking in front with a red
flag。
There are risks in all means of transit； indeed； it may be said that the
world is a dangerous place to live in。 It is true； too； that the demons of the
air have taken their toll of life from the young； ambitious； and daring souls。
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Many of the fatal accidents have been due to defective work in some part
of the machinery； some to want of that complete knowledge and control
that only experience can give； some even to want of proper care on the
part of the pilot。 If a pilot takes ordinary care in controlling his machine；
and if the mechanics who have built the machine have done their work
thoroughly； flying； nowadays； should be practically as safe as motoring。
The French Aero Club find； from a mass or information which has
been compiled for them with great care； that for every 92；000 miles
actually flown by aeroplane during the year 1912； only one fatal accident
had occurred。 This； too； in France； where some of the pilots have been
notoriously reckless； and where far more airmen have been killed than in
Britain。
When we examine carefully the statistics dealing with fatal accidents
in aeroplanes we find that the pioneers of flying； such as the famous
Wright Brothers； Bleriot； Farman； Grahame…White； and so on； were
comparatively free from accidents。 No doubt； in some cases； defective
machines or treacherous wind gusts caused the craft to collapse in mid…air。
But； as a rule； the first men to fly were careful to see that every part of the
machine was in order before going up in it； so that they rarely came to
grief through the planes not being sufficiently tightened up； wires being
unduly strained； spars snapping； or bolts becoming loose。
Mr。 Grahame…White admirably expresses this when he says： 〃It is