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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
THE MASTERY OF
THE AIR
by WILLIAM J。 CLAXTON
PREFACE
This book makes no pretence of going minutely into the technical and
scientific sides of human flight： rather does it deal mainly with the real
achievements of pioneers who have helped to make aviation what it is to…
day。
My chief object has been to arouse among my readers an intelligent
interest in the art of flight； and； profiting by friendly criticism of several of
my former works； I imagine that this is best obtained by setting forth the
romance of triumph in the realms of an element which has defied man for
untold centuries； rather than to give a mass of scientific principles which
appeal to no one but the expert。
So rapid is the present development of aviation that it is difficult to
keep abreast with the times。 What is new to…day becomes old to…morrow。
The Great War has given a tremendous impetus to the strife between the
warring nations for the mastery of the air； and one can but give a rough
and general impression of the achievements of naval and military airmen
on the various fronts。
Finally； I have tried to bring home the fact that the fascinating progress
of aviation should not be confined entirely to the airman and constructor
of air…craft； in short； this progress is not a retord of events in which the
mass of the nation have little personal concern； but of a movement in
which each one of us may take an active and intelligent part。
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
I have to thank various aviation firms； airmen； and others who have
kindly come to my assistance； either with the help of valuable information
or by the loan of photographs。 In particular； my thanks are due to the
Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service for permission to
reproduce illustrations from their two publications on the work and
training of their respective corps； to the Aeronautical Society of Great
Britain； to Messrs。 C。 G。 Spencer & Sons； Highbury； The Sopwith Aviation
Company； Ltd。； Messrs。 A。 V。 Roe & Co。； Ltd。； The Gnome Engine
Company； The Green Engine Company； Mr。 A。 G。 Gross （Geographia；
Ltd。）； and M。 Bleriot； for an exposition of the internal…combustion engine
I have drawn on Mr。 Horne's The Age of Machinery。
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
PART I…BALLOONS AND AIR…
SHIPS
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER I Man's Duel with Nature
Of all man's great achievements none is； perhaps； more full of human
interest than are those concerned with flight。 We regard ourselves as
remarkable beings； and our wonderful discoveries in science and invention
induce us to believe we are far and away the cleverest of all the living
creatures in the great scheme of Creation。 And yet in the matter of flight
the birds beat us； what has taken us years of education； and vast efforts of
intelligence； foresight； and daring to accomplish； is known by the tiny
fledglings almost as soon as they come into the world。
It is easy to see why the story of aviation is of such romantic interest。
Man has been exercising his ingenuity； and deliberately pursuing a certain
train of thought； in an attempt to harness the forces of Nature and compel
them to act in what seems to be the exact converse of Nature's own
arrangements。
One of the mysteries of Nature is known as the FORCE OF GRAVITY。
It is not our purpose in this book to go deeply into a study of gravitation；
we may content ourselves with the statement； first proved by Sir Isaac
Newton； that there is an invisible force which the Earth exerts on all
bodies； by which it attracts or draws them towards itself。 This property
does not belong to the Earth alone； but to all matterall matter attracts all
other matter。 In discussing the problems of aviation we are concerned
mainly with the mutual attraction of The Earth and the bodies on or near
its surface； this is usually called TERRESTRIAL gravity。
It has been found that every body attracts very other body with a force
directly proportionate to its mass。 Thus we see that； if every particle in a
mass exerts its attractive influence； the more particles a body contains the
greater will be the attraction。 If a mass of iron be dropped to the ground
from the roof of a building at the same time as a cork of similar size； the
iron and the cork would； but for the retarding effect of the air； fall to the
ground together； but the iron would strike the ground with much greater
force than the cork。 Briefly stated； a body which contains twice as much
matter as another is attracted or drawn towards the centre of the Earth with
twice the force of that other； if the mass be five times as great； then it will
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
be attracted with five times the force； and so on。
It is thus evident that the Earth must exert an overwhelming attractive
force on all bodies on or near its surface。 Now； when man rises from the
ground in an aeroplane he is counter…acting this force by other forces。
A short time ago the writer saw a picture which illustrated in a very
striking manner man's struggle with Nature。 Nature was represented as a
giant of immense stature and strength； standing on a globe with
outstretched arms； and in his hands were shackles of great size。 Rising
gracefully from the earth； immediately in front of the giant； was an airman
seated in a modern flying…machine； and on his face was a happy…go…lucky
look as though he were delighting in the duel between him and the giant。
The artist had drawn the picture so skilfully that one could imagine the
huge； knotted fingers grasping the shackles were itching to bring the
airman within their clutch。 The picture was entitled 〃MAN
TRIUMPHANT〃
No doubt many of those who saw that picture were reminded of the
great sacrifices made by man in the past。 In the wake of the aviator there
are many memorial stones of mournful significance。
It says much for the pluck and perseverance of aviators that they have
been willing to run the great risks which ever accompany their efforts。
Four years of the Great War have shown how splendidly airmen have risen
to the great demands made upon them。 In dispatch after dispatch from the
front； tribute has been paid to the gallant and devoted work of the Royal
Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service。 In a long and bitter
struggle British airmen have gradually asserted their supremacy in the air。
In all parts of the globe； in Egypt； in Mesopotamia； in Palestine； in Africa；
the airman has been an indispensable adjunct of the fighting forces。 Truly
it may be said that mastery of the air is the indispensable factor of final
victory。
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CHAPTER II The French Paper…maker who
Invented the Balloon
In the year 1782 two young Frenchmen might have been seen one
winter night sitting over their cottage fire； performing the curious
experiment of filling paper bags with smoke； and letting them rise up
towards the ceiling。 These young men were brothers； named Stephen and
Joseph Montgolfier； and their experiments resulted in the invention of the
balloon。
The brothers； like all inventors； seem to have had enquiring minds。
They were for ever asking the why and the wherefore of things。 〃Why
does smoke rise？〃 they asked。 〃Is there not some strange power in the
atmosphere which makes the smoke from chimneys and elsewhere rise in
opposition to the force of
