It is a mistaken idea that flying machines must be
operated at extreme altitudes. True, under the impetus
of handsome prizes, and the incentive to advance scientific
knowledge, professional aviators have ascended to
considerable heights, flights at from 500 to 1,500 feet being
now common with such experts as Farman, Bleriot,
Latham, Paulhan, Wright and Curtiss. The altitude
record at this time is about 4,165 feet, held by Paulhan.
One of the instructions given by experienced aviators
to pupils, and for which they insist upon implicit obeyance,
is: "If your machine gets more than 30 feet high,
or comes closer to the ground than 6 feet, descend at
once." Such men as Wright and Curtiss will not tolerate
a violation of this rule. If their instructions are
not strictly complied with they decline to give the offender
further lessons.
