days over regular airways, when neither the knowledge of stunting nor traffic driving may be needed. But, to get from either craft its best performance and to be prepared for whatever may happen, both lessons should be learned.
An individual’s life on the ground or in the air may depend on a split second. The slow response which results from seldom, if ever, having accomplished the combination of acts required in a given circumstance may be the deciding factor.
Suppose a car suddenly dashes out from a side street. Shall the driver on the main highway apply brakes to avoid a collision, try to get past by step ping on the throttle or swerve to one side? The problem can be worked out easily on paper, but only experience counts when there is no time to think a process through. The pilot who hasn’t stalled a plane is less likely to be able to judge correctly the time and space necessary for recovery than one who has.
Of course, stunting may be an art if perfected and practised by those who have the talent. It is popular for exhibitions where crowds like to see airplanes doing spectacular loops or dives or flying upside down. It should be understood that this precision flying is like tight rope walking—it only looks easy.
What are the uses of average stunts? Well, side slips sometimes come in handy in landing in a short field; stalls and spins in knowing what to avoid in normal flying. A vertical bank is necessary in a
