GLIDING BY WOMAN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29673, 17 November 1961, Page 12

GLIDING BY WOMAN

Unofficial Height

Because the height recording instrument was not operating at the time, an attempt by a Canterbury gliding enthusiast. Mrs H. Georgeson, to claim a New Zealand women’s gain-of-height record cannot be accepted. Mrs Georgeson soared to 22,100 ft over Mount Cook on Monday. The attempt was made during a camp attended by several gliding clubs at Mount Cook. The camp will continue into next week. Mrs Georgeson was substantially above the previous record height in her Slingsby Skylark 3F when it was found the instrument was not operating. Towed aloft by a Canterbury Aero Club Piper Cub. Mrs Georgeson's glider was released at 8000 ft. At 7000 ft the glider struck rough conditions but later soared into a smooth wave lift above the Hooker Valley. Yesterday there was no flying at Mount Cook but on Tuesday several gliders flew up to 15.000 ft. Mrs M. Waghorn, from Australia, in a K 8 model, was in the air for three hours and a half. Mrs J. Campbell, in tihe same machine, flew to 15,000tt and Mrs Georgeson, in her Skylark, reached the same height. Mrs G. Westenra, in a T. 42 Eagle, stayed aloft for four hours and a half.