OCR Text |
Show Wins Pilot's Wings at 'the Age of Sixty SECRETARY OF WAR WEEKS formally announced that Maj. Gen. Mason M. Patrick, chief of the army air service, has duly qualified as a pilot at the age of sixty yea.-s. "We used to hear that a man more than thirty years of age should not attempt flying, but General Patrick has won his wings at twice that age," said Mr. Weeks, who was obviously proud of the achievement of the chief of the air service. Secretary Weeks added that General Gen-eral Patrick had done a great deal of flying as a passenger and observer, and now had passed all the tests required re-quired of an officer to become a full-fledged full-fledged pilot. These Include taking off, landing, cross-country flying, and a knowledge of the construction and operation of airplane motors. General Patrick was transferred to the air service from the engineers corps In 1921. He began taking flying lessons a few months ago. The entire personnel of the air serv ice Is happy over General Patrick's acquisition of flying wings, pilots generally gen-erally contending that no matter how excellent an officer's other qualifications, qualifica-tions, unless he knows actual flying he cannot have the real sympathy of men who make a business of it. Secretary Weeks also announced that he has authorized General Patrick to detail two air service officers to make a preliminary survey of the route for the proposed nround-the-world flight. These officers will make a reconnaissance of the coast of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands and touch Japan. The general plan Is to pick up on the Asiatic continent the route followed by British pilots on their flight from London to Australia. The around-the-world flight has not yet been formally authorized, and congress con-gress probably will be asked for a specific appropriation to cover the expense, ex-pense, which will be considerable, especially espe-cially If a small squadron makes the flight Instead of a single plane. |