GLIDING CAMP AT OXFORD

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28784, 3 January 1959, Page 10

GLIDING CAMP AT OXFORD

Several Pilots Gain Awards Two gliders pilots have won their gain-of-height qualification for international awards at the annual camp of the Christchurch Gliding Club, being conducted at Burnt Hill, Oxford, over the New Year period. Mr J. Evans (Kaiapoi) celebrated New Year’s Dav by gliding to 13,200 ft in a Skylark II sailplane. Mr Evans was released at 2000 ft, and thus made a gain-of-height of 11,200 ft, enabling him to qualify for the gain z -of-height section of the International Gold C award. He was airborne for two hours.

Mr Evans has now to quality only for the 187-mile cross-country flight to gain this award.

In the good, north-west “wave” conditions experienced on New Year’s Day, several other pilots gained minor awards. On December 30, Mr Matthew Wills, patron of the Christchurch Gliding Club, qualified for his gain-of-height section for the International Silver C award by climbing 6000 ft in an air condition known as a “thermal.” He was airborne for an hour and a quarter, his flight also being made in a Skylark 11. Flying the Timaru Gliding Club’s Kookoburra sailplane. Messrs Ross Westenra (Timaru) and Peter Keddell (Timaru) both gained their C certificate on New Year’s Day, Mr Westenra being airborne for half an,hour, and Mr> Keddell for an hour and a half. Another good flight was made by Mr Warren Denton (Southbridge), who was aloft for three hdurs and a half in a Weihe sailplane. Mr Denis McKillop (Christchurch) was also aloft for an hour and a half, reaching a height of 4000 ft. North-west conditions were too rough yesterday for gliders to be taken aloft.