Flying By Their Pants

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ENLISTED PERSONNEL THAT CONTRIBUTED TO AVIATION
“THE FATHER OF BLIND FLYING"
USAACE NCOA
SSG Justin J. Kaonohi
15Z SLC
15-002
SFC Galvez

Throughout aviation history, there have been many people who have contributed to the success of Army Aviation. One man has made a lasting impression since the first airplane was sold to the military. William Charles Ocker figured out a way to help pilots fly at night and through cloudy conditions when all references are lost. Pilots would have to trust their gut and “fly by the seat of their pants”, navigating through surrounding terrain. The term “flying by the seat of their pants” comes from using their equilibrium to help navigate the aircraft’s attitude. Till this day, one man’s …show more content…

He instructed young pilot how to fly. During the training, Ocker incorporate the use of the turn and bank indicators. He called it, “a flight integrator”. The integrator uses gyroscopes to indicate the movements of the plane and displayed it with a miniature picture of a plane. The plan moved along a background scroll that displays the sky. This would let the pilots know he is in a turn and it would sense when the aircraft was straight and level. This is known as, “flying blind” or not knowing your references. This proofed that your instruments were accurate. In 1930, Ocker received the patent for the use of the turn and bank indicator, later to be used for all aircraft. He was so concerned about the welfare of other pilots; he gave all rights for the patent to the government. He also, invented the covered cockpit. Covering the cockpit means that the pilot would have no choice in to trusting his instruments. Many pilots were convinced that the instruments help when they were disorientated and confused, but the Army chose not accept the idea. Instead, his superior officer forced him to see the doctor for psychological examinations because of his methods of teaching. Pan American Airlines adopted his methods and taught it to their pilots in flight school. He was so sure of his method that he would be the first to fly cross country in a completely covered cockpit. The cross country flight was 900 miles with no visual cues. Later, a young Army Officer was the first to just use his instruments to take off, fly, and land safely. Further on proving that Ocker's methods did

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