【英文原著类】THE MASTERY OF THE AIR(操纵空气).pdf

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 es 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.
1
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
I have to thank various aviation firms, airmen, and others who have
e 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,