Series 01 Part 02: Hughes family correspondence, 3 April 1917-22 September 1918 - Page 153
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[Page 153]
a few days time. In many ways I am rather glad as they are magnificent machines and a change will do me good. In the meantime I am making the best show I can against many handicaps with the RE's. I don't think my methods with RE's are either appreciated or wanted so I will not have many regrets in leaving a thankless task to some one else. I think I have already largely overcome the prevalent terror of the machine so that at least is something. To put it plainly, I am feeling rather sick of the RE show now that after seven months hard work I find myself exactly where I started and rather welcome the change. If I saw any prospect of my ideas & methods with them being appreciated, I would be as keen as ever, but if those above me do not care to see what has been done where I was before, & are not inclined to back me up, it is their business. They put me to another job and I am not going to refuse it. Perhaps I can develop some new methods of training men on the other machines – at any rate that would be appreciated. The whole thing amuses me in a bitter sort of way. Several of the other instructors have come to me and asked in an amazed tone if I really do put the pupil in the pilots seat of the RE. They seem amazed at it – because they dont want to do it themselves. I feel as safe in the passengers seat as in the pilot's seat because I have confidence in the dual control which I worked out for the very purpose of letting the pupil fly with me under the very same conditions as he will have to when