Together, Arnold and Milling spent

Together, Arnold and Milling spent hours learning how the delicate machine was assembled, disassembled, greased, tightened, and repaired. Sharing the experience of becoming new aviators, the two young lieutenants developed a unique friendship that endured nearly forty years. Both were grateful for the time spent in the factory because, although the Army had decided to train pilots, it had not begun training mechanics or crew chiefs. In 1911, every pilot was also a mechanic of sorts.7 All early aviators became intimately familiar with the workings and assembly of their planes.8