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165
The Aeroplane Speaks. Fifth Edition
·
H. Barber
29
As
the
Pilot
approaches
the
Aeroplane
the
Rigger
springs
to
attention
and
reports,
"All
correct,
sir,"
but
the
Fitter
does
not
this
morning
report
the
condition
of
the
Engine,
for
well
he
knows
that
this
pilot
always
personally
looks
after
the
preliminary
engine
test.
The
latter,
in
leathern
kit,
warm
flying
boots
and
goggled,
climbs
into
his
seat,
and
now,
even
more
than
before,
has
the
Aeroplane
an
almost
living
appearance,
as
if
straining
to
be
off
and
away.
First
he
moves
the
Controls
to
see
that
everything
is
clear,
for
sometimes
when
the
Aeroplane
is
on
the
ground
the
control
lever
or
"joy-stick"
is
lashed
fast
to
prevent
the
wind
from
blowing
the
controlling
surfaces
about
and
possibly
damaging
them.
The
air
of
this
early
dawn
is
distinctly
chilly,
and
the
A.M.'s
are
beginning
to
stamp
their
cold
feet
upon
the
dewy
grass,
but
very
careful
and
circumspect
is
the
Pilot,
as
he
mutters
to
himself,
"Don't
worry
and
flurry,
or
you'll
die
in
a
hurry."
At
last
he
fumbles
for
his
safety
belt,
but
with
a
start
remembers
the
Pitot
Air
Speed
Indicator,
and,
adjusting
it
to
zero,
smiles
as
he
hears
the
Pitot-head's
gruff
voice,
"Well,
I
should
think
so,
twenty
miles
an
hour
I
was
registering.
That's
likely
to
cause
a
green
pilot
to
stall
the
Aeroplane.
Pancake,
they
call
it."
And
the
Pilot,
who
is
an
old
hand
and
has
learned
a
lot
of
things
in
the
air
that
mere
earth-dwellers
know
nothing
about,
distinctly
heard
the
Pitot
Tube,
whose
mouth
is
open
to
the
air
to
receive
its
pressure,
stammer,
"Oh
Lor!
I've
got
an
earwig
already--hope
to
goodness
the
Rigger
blows
me
out
when
I
come
down--and
this
morning
air
simply
fills
me
with
moisture;
I'll
never
keep
the
Liquid
steady
in
the
Gauge.
I'm
not
sure
of
my
rubber
connections
either."
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