GLIDING CLUB’S PROGRESS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 13

GLIDING CLUB’S PROGRESS

“MOST NOTABLE YEAR” PURCHASE OF SECOND CRAFT PROPOSED “This year has been the most notable in the club’s short existence for it has seen the completion of months of hard work on the construction of our first glider and the beginning of flying,” saj« the president, Mr B. G. Dingwall, ana the secretary, Mr B. W. Hanham, in the sixth annual report of the Canterbury Gliding Club. The report briefly surveys the history of the club since it was formed in June, 1947.

The kitset of the club’s Slingsby T3l two-seater training glider arrived in August, 1951, and was test flown on November 1, 1952. The report says that between the date of arrival and the test flight were “18 months of devoted labour by a small, hard core” of club members. The surveyor of the Civil Aviation-Branch of the Air Department had apparently been extremely pleased with the workmanship put into the craft and it had been found to handle very well and to be capable of higher performance than was anticipated. Between November of last year and last month the sailplane had made 504 flights of 95 hours’ duration and as a result of these flights the club had earned £ 104.

Up till the present time flying, Had been done at Harewood airport with the co-operation of the flying control authorities and the Aero Club, who had also provided hangar space, but it was becoming imperative to find a separate flying field. Launching had been by aero-tow, which was a slow and expensive method in comparison with winch launching, which would come into operation next year. The report states that the club has purchased a six-cylinder engine as a power unit for the winch, which is now in course of assembly, and 4000 feet of winch cable.

The annual meeting of the club will consider a proposal that club members make contriubtions within their means to provide the immediate capital for the purchase of an intermediate single-seater sailplane, which is estimated to cost between £7OO and £BOO. Each contribution would be credited against members’ future subscriptions and flying fees until it is repaid. Other plans of the club mentioned in the report include the provision of a gliding site in hill country close to Christchurch, for which some exploration has already been done, and the provision of a hangar and club quarters when a suitable field has been found.

The report acknowledges a very substantial donation by Mr M. Wills, and reference is made to the fine performances of Mr S. H. Georgeson, a club member, who now holds the New Zealand height, distance and endurance records.