file which includes the original illustrations4 ,see #fbdgb-;h4htm or #fbdgb-;h4zip3 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/cache_/epu b_/#fbdgb_/pg#fbdgb-;images4html7 or 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/files_/#fb dgb_/fbdgb-;h4zip7 ,images of the original pages are available through ,internet ,archive4 ,see https3_/_/archive4org_/details_/aviation book#jj;davi ,transcriber's note3 ,text enclosed by underscores is in italics 7italics74 ,,aviation ,,book ,illustration ,copyright1 #aiah1 by ,mc,loughlin ,brothers4 ,inc4 ,new ,york ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,original ,,wright ,,biplane4 ,,invented ,,and ,,flown ,,by ,,wright ,,brothers ,,in #aije ,,at ,,kitty ,,hawk1 ,n4 ,c4 ,,aviation ,,book ,illustration3 ,,uncle ,,sam ,,starts ,,his ,,aviation ,,story ,tom and ,jack are brothers and chums4 ,they are ,boy ,scouts4 ,jack is first class1 but ,tom is only a tenderfoot4 ,like all bright1 manly boys they are interested in airships and are anxious for the time to come when they can fly too4 ,tom and ,jack's uncle is a famous aviator1 and he knows all about flying4 ,his name being ,samuel the boys always call him ,uncle ,sam1 and they sometimes jokingly pretend to think that he is the great ,uncle ,sam who represents the ,united ,states4 ,tom and ,jack knew that the best way to find out about airships was to ask their ,uncle ,sam4 ,so1 as soon as they saw him1 they made him consent to tell his wonderful story of aviation4 ,tom and ,jack were all ears as their uncle started his aviation story4 8,first10 he began1 8,i shall tell you the thrilling tale of ,man's long striving to learn how to rival the birds4 ,in myths and fairy tales there were men and goblins who had wings or who owned winged chariots and animals4 ,but real1 everyday people never learned how to go up in the air until #aghc40 8,the very year ,england and the ,united ,states made peace after the ,revolutionary ,war60 exclaimed ,tom4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,ascension ,,of ,,montgolfier',s ,,balloon 8,don't interrupt ,uncle ,sam2 it is not polite10 advised ,jack4 8,well10 continued ,uncle ,sam1 8it was on ,june #e1 #aghc that ,stephen and ,joseph ,montgolfier1 two ,french brothers1 sent up the first balloon4 ,you can just imagine the amazement it caused when it arose from the ground4 8,many successful experiments were made with balloons2 but they were harder to run than old-time sailboats4 ,a balloon could not fly against the wind4 ,in a storm or a heavy gale it would be wrecked and the passengers killed4 ,a machine was needed that could speed against the wind and not upset in a heavy blow4 8,a few inventors tried to solve the flying problem with motor-driven balloons such as the ,german ,zeppelin4 ,but most attention was given to heavier-than-air machines known as aeroplanes4 ,aeroplanes are called heavier-than-air to distinguish them from balloons1 which1 being inflated with gas1 are lighter than air4 ,there were many discouraging years of hard thought and labor before success came4 ,finally1 in #aije1 two ,american brothers1 ,wilbur and ,orville ,wright1 invented the first successful flying machine2 and in a series of marvelous flights showed that ,man had1 at last1 rivaled the birds4 ,illustration 8,numerous inventions have made man almost the equal of the birds in the air4 ,flying has been made nearly as safe as riding on horseback or in an automobile4 ,the aeroplane is now a necessity in times of war and peace4 ,its startling deeds will be the subject of the story ,i'm about to tell4 8,of course1 you want to know something about the man who runs an aeroplane10 said ,uncle ,sam4 8,indeed1 we do10 replied both boys at the same time4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,aeroplane ,,is ,a ,,necessity ,,in ,,times ,,of ,,war ,,and ,,peace ,illustration3 ,,some ,,types ,,of ,,american ,,and ,,foreign ,,aeroplanes ,illustration ,illustration3 ,,group ,,of ,,french ,,aviators 8,now10 continued ,uncle ,sam1 8to become a military aviator a man must1 first of all1 have a strong1 healthy body1 a quick1 active mind1 and iron nerves4 ,there are many good aviators that wouldn't be good military aviators1 because the strain of war would prove too much for them4 ,if a man is just right in body and mind1 they send him to an aviation training camp where he is taught to fly4 ,illustration3 ,,learning ,,to ,,fly ,,by ,,watching ,,the ,,expert ,,aviator 8,at the training camp he is instructed in the care of an aeroplane and its powerful motor4 ,he goes up in the air a number of times with an expert aviator4 ,by constantly watching the expert1 he learns to fly4 ,then he learns many dazzling stunts--to loop-the-loop1 make figure eights1 fly upside down1 and other dangerous maneuvers4 8,after the new aviator knows how to care for an aeroplane and fly perfectly1 he is taught wireless telegraphy1 and shown how to take aerial photographs1 fire machine guns and drop bombs4 ,as soon as he learns all these things1 he's a full-fledged aviator1 and ready to go into active service for his country40 ,tom and ,jack had their eyes wide open in wonder as ,uncle ,sam continued3 8,ordinary flying1 as ,i told you boys before1 is now almost as safe as riding on horseback or in an auto4 ,but1 in time of war1 running a military aeroplane is the riskiest work in the world4 ,when ,i tell you of the marvelous1 death-defying deeds military aviators have done1 ,i doubt if you will believe me4 ,yet everything is absolutely true4 ,illustration3 ,,aeroplane ,,directing ,,artillery ,,fire ,illustration3 ,,aviators ,,taking ,,photographs 8,an aviator's most important duties are to take photographs of the enemy's location and direct artillery fire4 ,the aviator must seek out the enemy and learn their exact position4 ,he must discover1 if he can1 about how many men and guns they have2 how well they are fortified2 how hard or easy it is to attack them4 ,he makes many photographs and sketches which are valuable to his officers in planning an attack40 8,you haven't told us how the brave aviator directs artillery fire10 broke in ,tom4 8,i'm getting to that now10 said ,uncle ,sam4 8,you know that there was a time when a man who fired a cannon could see his target4 ,but now1 a cannon1 or the artillery1 fires at a range of from six to thirty miles4 ,no matter how big the target1 it is impossible to see it from such a distance1 especially when trees1 mountains or fogs are in the way4 ,firing artillery is now a matter of calculation4 ,just where to shoot has to be figured out by means of maps1 instruments1 and mathematics4 ,quite often the figuring is not exactly right4 ,the aviator must go up--bombs and shells bursting all around him--and discover if the guns are hitting the mark4 ,when a shot doesn't strike in the right place1 the aviator sends directions by wireless for firing the next shell so that it will hit the enemy's position and destroy it4 ,illustration3 ,,scouting ,,over ,,the ,,ruined ,,region ,,between ,,the ,,lines 7,,no ,,man',s ,,land7 ,illustration3 ,,battleplanes ,,convoying ,,photographing ,,aeroplanes 8,not all the excitement is over the battle lines4 ,one of the most thrilling experiences an aviator can have is to fight off enemy aeroplanes and ,zeppelins when they come to drop bombs on a city or town4 ,cities liable to be raided by hostile machines are protected by lookout towers4 ,as soon as the ,zeppelins are sighted1 the men in the towers toot shrill blasts on loud siren horns4 ,at the signal of the horns every light in the attacked city is put out1 and all the people rush into houses and cellars for safety4 ,big anti-,zeppelin guns are pointed skyward to fire destruction-dealing shells at the enemy overhead4 8,the brave aviators1 who protect the city1 start their machines and go up in the air to drive off the foe--amid the reek of fire and the scream of shot and shell4 ,the battle is usually short4 ,the swift defending aeroplanes1 with their machine guns constantly spitting bullets1 fight rings around the ,zeppelins4 ,the big guns on the ground send deadly missiles through many of the enemy airships4 ,all of a sudden one bursts into flames4 ,with a roar and a bang it hurtles to the earth4 ,in the next moment1 still another is hit4 ,one of the doomed men saves himself by dropping off in a huge floating parachute4 ,he is made prisoner the minute he touches ground4 ,illustration3 ,,fighting ,,zeppelin ,,raiders ,illustration3 ,,tooting ,,the ,,sirens ,,of ,,warning 8,in a little while the remnant of the once-proud enemy air fleet flees in mortal terror4 ,the day is saved4 ,the heroic aviators1 who successfully defended the city1 return to earth amid the cheers of the grateful people4 8,usually the damage done is unimportant from a military point of view4 ,several non-combatants are killed and a few houses and an occasional church are damaged4 8,now1 we will go back to the firing line1 and see how the aeroplane is used in connection with the land fighting4 8,many ,german aeroplanes come to grief by trying to battle ,british tanks40 8,what's a ,british tank80 put in ,jack4 8,i thought everyone was familiar with the tank1 but as you evidently are not1 ,i shall explain what it is4 ,a tank is a great big battle car1 protected with heavy shot-proof steel and armed with guns4 ,it can travel anywhere--over hills1 walls1 trenches1 through mud1 bushes1 and trees4 ,many people call a tank a land-battleship4 ,illustration3 ,,dropping ,,off ,,in ,,parachute ,,from ,,flaming ,,balloon ,illustration3 ,,battle ,,between ,,aeroplane ,,and ,,british ,,tank 8,now that you know what a tank is1 ,i will go on with my story4 ,when the ,british attack the ,germans1 they often use tanks1 which rumble along1 crushing everything before them4 ,the enemy forces are driven back in terror4 ,in reckless despair they try to save the day by pitting their aeroplanes against these unbeatable steel monsters4 8,aeroplanes fighting ,british tanks are practically helpless and seldom attack them4 #8,zip6 ,zip6 ,bang6' go the machine guns of the hostile aeroplanes4 ,but the rain of shot and shell rattles harmlessly against the huge armored tanks4 #8,boom6 ,bang6' roar the tanks' heavy guns4 ,down drops one enemy aeroplane1 in a horrible wake of flames and exploding gasoline4 ,it strikes the earth--a shattered tangle of wire and wood4 ,the aviator1 of course1 is dashed to death4 ,another of the foe's machines is struck2 and still another4 ,all meet the same fate4 ,nothing can resist the tanks40 8,such battles must be more exciting than fairy tales and novels10 exclaimed ,tom and ,jack in breathless wonder4 8,there's one thing our aviators do sometimes that is seldom excelled for courage and daring10 said ,uncle ,sam1 pleased with the way his nephews were enjoying his story4 8,the enemy soldiers are very strongly entrenched behind earthworks and barbed wire fences4 ,when our infantry find it impossible to make them flee1 our bold aviators are assigned to the task4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,age ,,of ,,flying ,illustration3 ,,they ,,swoop ,,down ,,over ,,the ,,trenches 8,with dash and bravery they go up in the air and hover near the hostile positions4 ,suddenly1 like eagles they swoop down over the trenches shooting at the frightened enemy4 #8,zip6 ,crack6 ,bang6' rattle their machine guns4 ,those who are not killed or seriously wounded flee in terror into the dugouts for safety4 8,then1 quick as a flash1 our men rush in and capture the trench before enemy reinforcements come up4 ,the courageous aviators are wildly cheered but haven't time now to listen to the praise2 they must go up in the air again to protect their comrades from enemy aeroplanes1 which lurk everywhere waiting for a chance to drop bombs40 8,by the way1 ,uncle ,sam10 asked ,jack1 8why do aviators wear such heavy clothing80 ,illustration3 ,,just ,,before ,,the ,,battle 8,it must be very cold up in the air10 thought ,tom to himself1 not saying anything for the first time4 8,it's frightfully cold up above the clouds10 said ,uncle ,sam4 8,the higher you fly the colder it becomes4 ,up in the sky1 ,i have often felt a temperature below zero1 while down on the earth it was comfortable and warm4 ,later on in school1 you boys will learn that the sun's rays give very little heat until they reach the earth4 ,i would explain the reason myself1 but ,i want to go on with the story4 8,our aviators are flying around in the sky about three miles above the earth when1 all at once1 the enemy's machines dash into view4 ,the two hostile air fleets see each other almost at the same time1 and quickly prepare for action4 ,a thrilling battle in the air is at hand4 8,our machines are outnumbered1 but that does not deter us4 #8,rat-a-tat-tat1' shrieks one of our machine guns4 ,one of the foe is put out of action4 ,his machine in flames1 he falls dizzily to earth4 ,marvelous flying is now going on4 ,one of our men loops-the-loop to get into position4 ,an enemy aviator backs up his machine in mid-air3 then dives down headlong a thousand feet4 ,swiftly he rights himself and speeds up firing right1 left1 and straight ahead4 ,we have a hard time dodging that dangerous fellow4 ,illustration3 ,,we ,,pounce ,,on ,,the ,,big ,,enemy ,,battleplane 8,a big enemy battleplane gets separated from the group4 ,in just two seconds two of our force pounce upon it4 ,the huge machine battles skillfully for a while4 ,then we force it into a bad position1 and rain upon it a terrible storm of bullets from our machine guns4 ,the big battleplane goes down1 but fighting to the last4 8,night approaches and envelops the earth with a blanket of darkness4 ,powerful searchlights from below1 each of which is a wonderful instrument1 scan the heavens with beams of ghostly white and yellow4 ,the aeroplanes still struggle4 ,the constant flashes from the bursting shells are even more terrible than in the day time4 ,the scene is still more hideous when an unfortunate aviator takes the fatal plunge1 his machine ablaze4 ,one of our fine biplanes makes a mistake and gets right in line with an enemy's gun4 ,the foe's machine-gun bullets penetrate its gasoline tank4 ,it explodes in mid-air1 and the biplane rushes to earth in a roaring blaze40 8,who wins this great battle80 broke in ,tom4 8,well1 ,i'm getting to that now10 said ,uncle ,sam4 8,tom1 you ought to be ashamed of yourself4 ,you have done nothing but interrupt during the whole story10 declared ,jack4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,battleplanes ,,struggle ,,in ,,the ,,night 8,now1 don't you boys start quarreling4 ,you might get in a worse scrape than the aeroplanes ,i'm telling about4 8,now ,i'll get back to my story again3 ,illustration3 ,a ,,safe ,,landing ,,spot 8,between nine and ten o'clock1 the two rival air fleets are equally tired of the strife4 ,almost at the same time1 both decide to stop fighting1 and withdraw to their own sides of the battleline4 ,the struggle itself might be called a tie4 ,but since we kept the enemy from dropping bombs on our men in the trenches1 the victory is really ours4 8,it is dangerous for our airmen to land their machines in the dark4 ,they might land on bad ground or in a tree1 or possibly collide with some building4 ,to make landing at night safe and avoid being seen by the enemy1 was a problem we had to solve4 ,we placed powerful electric lights deep in the ground and covered them with heavy glasses to prevent their breaking4 ,when the lights are sunk in this manner they can be seen only from above4 ,wherever our aviators see one of these lights1 they know it marks a safe landing spot4 8,now10 said ,uncle ,sam1 8so far as our story is concerned we shall leave the bloody battlefront1 and ,i will tell you about the aeroplane of the sea4 ,the flying machine of the sea is called the hydroaeroplane4 ,that is a rather long name4 ,seaplane is an easier word to pronounce1 and is more commonly used4 ,the seaplane can float like a boat and fly like an aeroplane4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,seaplane ,,can ,,sail ,,on ,,the ,,water ,,like ,a ,,boat ,,and ,,fly ,,in ,,the ,,air ,,like ,,an ,,aeroplane 8,i suppose you boys have the same opinion of seaplanes as most people4 ,you think the seaplane is not half as important as the land battleplanes ,i've been telling you about40 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,blimp ,,dirigible ,,balloon 8,that's right10 agreed ,tom and ,jack4 8,well10 continued ,uncle ,sam with an air of superior wisdom1 8the aviation service of the sea is just as important as that of the land4 ,as the land aeroplanes are the #8eyes' of the army1 so the seaplanes are the #8eyes' of the navy4 ,if it weren't for these marvelous flying boats1 the ,german submarines might have succeeded in sinking nearly all of our merchant ships--the boats that carry food1 clothing1 guns1 and ammunition to the ,allies of ,democracy4 ,sometimes1 too1 our seaplanes have helped the battleships to destroy the enemy fleet4 8,just after the ,world ,war started1 ,germany launched her ,u-,boat submarines and undertook a campaign which eventually brought this country into the war4 ,england was in a dreadful fix4 ,very little food1 clothing1 and munitions could get in from ,america2 many of her fine ships were being sent to the bottom of the sea4 ,there was no way to stop the ,u-,boats4 ,what could we do8 8,in these hours of trial1 a smart ,englishman invented a motor-driven balloon called a ,blimp4 ,it's a mystery to me why they named it a ,blimp4 ,but1 even with such a modern name1 the ,blimp could certainly scout for ,german submarines--the ,u-,boats4 ,whenever a ,blimp found a ,u-,boat it would send a wireless message to a ship called a ,submarine ,destroyer which would chase the submarine and sink it40 ,illustration3 ,a ,,great ,,battle ,,in ,,which ,,the ,,amazing ,,air ,,fleets ,,of ,,the ,,sea ,,take ,,part ,illustration3 ,,bomb ,,splits ,,zeppelin ,,in ,,half 8,what ,i can't understand10 said ,tom thoughtfully1 8is why they need a ,blimp or an aeroplane to find ,u-,boats8 ,why can't the ,submarine ,destroyers seek out the ,u-,boats for themselves80 8,yes1 ,uncle ,sam1 please explain that10 said ,jack4 8,i'll gladly tell you the reason10 said ,uncle ,sam4 8,you know that you can't see through a window from the outside when the sun shines on it4 ,it is the same on the sea4 ,when the light shines on the water1 it is impossible to see beneath the waves4 ,but when an aviator is high overhead the light is not reflected in his eyes4 ,therefore1 he is able to see twenty1 thirty1 and1 sometimes1 a hundred feet under the surface of the water4 ,furthermore1 a man high in the air can look around and see more than the man below4 8,now1 ,i'll start where ,i left off4 ,i shall have to hurry along1 as it is getting late4 ,since the early days of the great ,world ,war1 many new inventions have made sea flying the marvel of the age4 ,suppose ,i tell you boys of a great battle in which the amazing air fleets of the sea take part4 8,two hostile fleets of warships steam defiantly toward each other4 ,how proudly their banners flaunt gay colors in the breeze6 ,how boldly their stately bows plough through the sea6 ,how grim1 how stern their gray sides reflect the sunlight6 ,ere the day is over1 many1 many ships of these grand fleets will lie on the ocean floor4 ,many others will stagger to home ports--battered wrecks4 8,high over the enemy fleet are their ,zeppelins1 floating lazily with the clouds4 ,over our warships1 darting here and there1 are the #8eyes' of the fleet--our seaplanes4 ,it won't be long before the ,zeppelins1 the hostile aeroplanes1 and our seaplanes are clinched in a struggle to death4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,depth ,,bomb ,,destroys ,a ,u-,,boat ,illustration ,illustration3 ,a ,,mass ,,of ,,wreckage ,,that ,,strikes ,,the ,,deck ,,of ,,one ,,of ,,our ,,warships 8,let us look at the battleships again4 ,many of them carry small elevated railways on which run tiny cars4 ,these are called seaplane catapults4 ,the word catapult means1 #8,to throw heavy stones4' ,so we conclude that these little railways throw seaplanes4 ,well1 they do throw seaplanes4 ,let's inspect one and see how it is done4 ,the little car1 bearing a big seaplane1 with its propeller spinning1 shoots along the railway track at lightning speed4 ,at the very end1 it strikes a bumper4 ,off shoots the seaplane4 ,the car darts back to the starting point4 ,when a battleship clears for action1 the catapult is taken down4 8,the monster warships have now begun to fight4 ,their big guns are banging and booming--hundreds of times louder than thunder4 ,on the decks1 behind the guns1 in the engine rooms and wireless cabins--everywhere1 men are striving1 straining every nerve1 risking their lives for the land they love4 8,it's aviation we are talking about1 so let's look high overhead4 ,our marvelous seaplanes are spying on the hostile battleships1 fighting the ,zeppelins and enemy aeroplanes1 and dropping bombs on the foe below--all at the same time4 #8,rat-a-tat-tat1' shrieks a seaplane's deadly machine gun4 ,with a sickening plunge1 an enemy aeroplane darts down--a streak of flaming wood and tangled metal4 ,down goes another--a mass of wreckage that strikes the deck of one of our warships4 ,a daring aviator dashes up1 up1 away up in the air2 and drops a bomb on a ,zeppelin4 ,right in the middle strikes the missile of destruction4 ,the enemy's cigar-shaped airship makes a headlong dive for the ocean--split in half4 ,it strikes the bosom of the sea2 and disappears in one final1 deafening explosion1 which throws the salt spray high into the air4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,seaplane ,,shoots ,,off ,,the ,,catapult 8,let's get a glimpse of another part of the battle scene4 ,one of our seaplanes is flying along at a moderate rate of speed1 when the tell-tale periscope is sighted4 ,a ,u-,boat is near the surface of the water4 ,our aviator drops a remarkable1 a terrific bomb4 ,when this bomb sinks deep enough1 the pressure of the water makes it explode4 ,the force of the underwater explosion causes anything near it to be crushed like an egg shell4 ,you can imagine what happens to the unfortunate submarine4 ,illustration3 ,,sending ,,up ,a 8,,humming0 ,,shot ,a ,,little ,,too ,,close ,,for ,,comfort 8,all of a sudden1 three enemy aeroplanes dash into view1 determined to attack our seaplane--to avenge the sunken ,u-,boat4 ,but when one of the big guns on our warship sends up a #8humming' shot1 a little too close to the foe for comfort1 they withdraw at once4 8,we finally won this dreadful sea battle1 and the seaplanes certainly deserve a great deal of credit4 8,if you boys have followed my story1 you know the value of land and sea aviation service in time of war40 8,indeed1 ,i have followed it10 said ,tom warmly4 8,it's the most interesting tale ,i ever heard or read10 exclaimed ,jack4 8,listen to me1 boys10 said their ,uncle ,sam4 ,he was a bit annoyed and impatient2 for he now had little time to spare for interruptions4 ,illustration3 ,,fast ,,mail-,,carrying ,,aeroplanes ,,will ,,make ,,postal ,,deliveries ,,everywhere 8,the greatest benefit from the #8,conquest of the ,air' will come in times of peace4 ,before ,i go1 ,i shall tell you boys a few of the peace-time uses of the land aeroplane1 the hydroaeroplane or seaplane1 the ,zeppelin1 the ,blimp1 the ordinary balloon--all the mechanical birds of ,man's inventive genius4 ,some of these uses you are already familiar with2 some you and ,i will live to see2 some won't come to pass until we are in our graves4 8,the greatest aviation service will likely be transportation1 both for business and pleasure4 ,aeroplanes and motor-driven balloons will rival steamships1 trains1 and automobiles as carriers of passengers1 freight1 and mail4 ,there will be big aerial ocean liners plying over the ,atlantic and1 possibly1 the wide ,pacific4 ,fast mail-carrying aeroplanes1 capable of a speed of two or more miles a minute1 will make postal deliveries everywhere4 ,letters from ,new ,york will reach ,chicago in a few hours4 ,private aeroplanes1 darting here and there among the clouds1 will be as numerous as the birds4 ,thousands of seaplanes will sail on and glide over our lakes1 rivers1 bays1 and oceans4 ,illustration3 ,,caproni ,,triplane ,,crossing ,,the ,,alps 8,aerial transportation is not just a thing of the future4 ,it is already here4 ,in ,may1 #aiah1 regular aeroplane mail service was begun between ,new ,york ,city and ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,many men now have their own aeroplanes or seaplanes1 and travel around in them as commonly as in an automobile4 ,two brave ,italians flew1 in a trifle over seven hours1 from ,turin1 ,italy1 across the ,alps and then to ,london--a distance of #fej miles4 ,a gigantic aeroplane has been invented in ,italy4 ,it is called the ,caproni ,triplane1 because a man named ,caproni invented it1 and because it bears three sets of planes or wings4 ,it is able to travel a long distance and carry heavy loads4 ,illustration3 ,,ship ,,saved ,,by ,,life ,,line ,,thrown ,,from ,a ,,rescue ,,airship 8,outside of transportation1 there are and will be numerous other peace-time uses for aeroplanes and balloons4 ,but ,i have time to tell about only two more--ship saving and aerial weather observation4 ,many a ship stranded on the rocks in a storm can be reached by a life line thrown from a rescue airship4 ,an aviator high in the sky can find out weather conditions not known on the earth below4 ,from his reports1 we shall be able to make more accurate weather forecasts4 8,well1 boys10 said ,uncle ,sam1 8my aviation story is over1 and ,i must be on my way40 ,he gives each boy a warm handshake1 and bids good-bye4 ,he jumps into his aeroplane1 and starts the motor4 ,the propellers whirl4 ,the noise of the motor is deafening4 ,finally1 the big bird skims the ground and gracefully ascends4 ,illustration ,a beautiful landscape closes the scene4 ,the sun1 in a halo of golden glory1 sinks in the west4 ,uncle ,sam in his aeroplane is a mere speck in the lonely twilight sky4 ,the boys watch him float out of sight1 and then start for home with their minds full of aeroplanes1 balloons1 aviators1 aviation4 ,illustration ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,transcriber's note3 #a4 ,silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling4 #b4 ,archaic1 non-standard1 and uncertain spellings retained as printed4