Chapter I: Front Matter

THE WAY OF THE AIR

THE WAY
OF THE AIR

A DESCRIPTION OF MODERN AVIATION

BY

EDGAR C. MIDDLETON
(“AN AIR PILOT”)
LATE FLIGHT SUB-LIEUT., R.N.; AUTHOR OF “AIRCRAFT”

NEW YORK
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
PUBLISHERS

_Copyright, 1917, by_
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY

_All rights reserved including that of translation
into foreign languages_

Dedication

TO THE MEMORY OF FRIENDS
WHO HAVE FALLEN IN THE GREAT FIGHT

Captain ADRIAN LIDDELL, V.C., R.F.C.
Flight Sub-Lieut. R. A. J. WARNEFORD, V.C., R.N.
Flight Lieut. ROSHER, R.N.
Flight Lieut. TALBOT, R.N.
Flight Lieut. GRAHAM, R.N.
Flight Commander BEARD, R.N.
Captain BASIL HALLAM RADFORD, R.F.C.
AND
Second-Lieut. ARTHUR FISHER, R.F.C.

“WHO FOUND GLORY ONLY BECAUSE
GLORY LAY IN THE PLAIN PATH OF DUTY”

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED

AUTHOR’S NOTE

The idea of this little book is to give as clear and graphic a description of modern aviation as circumstances will permit; of the new, heroic race of men to which Flying has given birth; of the conditions under, and the elements in, which their work is carried out, and the difficulties and dangers they have to encounter. Flying is essentially a profession for the younger generation. The strain is too great for men of more mature years. To withstand such strain requires all the vigor, the recklessness, the iron nerve of youth. It is a profession that offers an irresistible appeal to healthy-minded, sport-loving youth, to whom adventure is the nectar of existence.

The writer’s chief endeavor in the opening chapters has been to help the young man who wishes to adopt “Flying” as a profession. Part II of the book is composed of a collection of incidents taken from the diary of an air pilot on Active Service somewhere in the North of France. They are given in their original form. I also wish to thank the editors of the _Daily Mail_, _Daily Express_, _Daily Chronicle_, _Evening News_, and _Boys’ Friend_ for their courtesy in permitting me to use, in a few instances, material embodied in articles appearing in their journals.

E. C. M.

_London, 1917._

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

PART I THE SERVICE AIRMAN IN THE MAKING

AUTHOR’S NOTE vii
INTRODUCTION 3
I. JOINING THE SERVICE 10
II. THE AIRMAN’S FIRST DAYS 17
III. THE INITIAL FLIGHT 23
IV. THE PERILS OF THE AIR 28
V. THE SPIRIT OF THE AIR 34
VI. SEAPLANES 40
VII. A ZEPPELIN CHASE 48
VIII. THE COMPLETE AIRMAN 53

PART II ON ACTIVE SERVICE

IX. BEHIND THE FIRING LINE 61
X. THE FIRST TRIP ACROSS THE LINE 66
XI. SOME ANECDOTES 74
XII. SPORT EXTRAORDINARY 81
XIII. A BALLOON-TRIP BY NIGHT 85
XIV. THE BATTLE OF THE WOOD 92
XV. A TIGHT CORNER 97
XVI. AN AIR FIGHT WITH A HUN 108
XVII. A GREAT RAID 114
XVIII. A DAY-DREAM 123
XIX. A MID-AIR BATTLE 127
XX. A BATTLE FROM ABOVE 132
XXI. A TRUE STORY OF THE WAR 136
XXII. HEROISM IN THE AIR 144

PART III OTHER CRAFT AND THE FUTURE

XXIII. THE EVOLUTION OF THE AIRSHIP 151
XXIV. LAWS OF THE AIR 161
XXV. AERIAL COMBAT 166
XXVI. THE AIR--THE WAR--AND THE FUTURE 170