GLIDING CAMP

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 9

GLIDING CAMP

TESTS FOR TWO NEW SAILPLANES If conditions are favourable, good performances may be expected from two of Britain's most modern high performance sailplanes when they receive their first exhaustive tests at the annual Christmas and New Year camp of the Canterbury Gliding Club, which is due to begin at Hanmer Springs on Boxing Day. In the Skylark 111, which has been imported by a syndicate of which he is a member. Mr S. H. Georgeson, one of New Zealand's leading gliding pilots and a competitor at the world gliding championships held this year ik France, may attempt to complete requirements for the international Gold C award. He has yet to fly a distance of not less than 200 miles. Three years ago in his Weihe, which is now owned by another syndicate of Christchurch enthusiasts, he narrowly missed achieving this feat when he flew from Christchurch to Taieri. There may also be keen competition among members of the camp to complete the requirements of the international Silver C award. As yet no male has won this award in New Zealand. Mrs Georgeson, who was the first New Zealand woman to become a fully qualified glider pilot, has earned this award. Mr Georgeson is also a holder of the award but he qualified overseas. Ones of those who will be seeking to win the award is the chief instructor of the club. Mr Fred Dunn. He has yet to complete a flight of at least 32 miles. At the last camp at Simons Hill station in the Mackenzie county, he made an unsuccessful attempt on the distance flight being forced to land at Mount John station air strip after flying about \lb miles. , x , . - Up to eight gliders may be at this year’s camp, which will be held on the Marchmont station of Mr D. Atkinson. There will be five Christchurch gliders—the nrivately-ov/ned Skylark II and 111 and the Weihe and the Canterbury Gliding Club’s T-31 two-seater trainer and its Eon babv intermediate sailplane. The T-31 will be towed to the camp site by the club’s Tiger Moth, but all of the- other gliders will be taken to Hanmer Springs by road. One or two of the South Canterbury Club’s craft are also expected at Hanmer Springs. The Timaru enthusiasts have a Kookaburra two-seater trainer and a single-seater Tutor. The gliding section of the Marlborough Aero Club mav also send its T-31 two-seater. The last four camps held by the club have all been in the Mackenzie country. Mr Dunn said yesterday that the pilots would have to sound out the new site. “We really do not know what its capabilities are.” he said. The camp will continue until early January.