N.Z. GLIDING RECORD

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30337, 13 January 1964, Page 10

N.Z. GLIDING RECORD

Flight Of 300 Miles An attempt on the world gliding distance record of 550 miles, established recently by a German, failed on Saturday when Mr S. H. Georgeson, of Christchurch, flew 300 miles from south of Omarama to Blenheim in eight hours and a half. New Zealand has twice held world gliding records—for gain of weight and out and return. However, Mr Georgeson established a new New Zealand record for distance on Saturday, beating Mr Keith Wakeman’s 260 miles between Oxford and Palmerston North. Mr Georgeson’s attempt was his third in seven days. On January 3, he flew over Mount Cook and continued up the west side of the main divide, which he crossed near the Lewis Pass. Lack of lift forced him to land on Mr J. Davie’s property, between Waiau and Kaikoura. Attempts were then made by Messrs Georgeson, B. S. Gillies, and D. F. Westenra. but were abandoned because of unsuitable weather.

On Saturday, extensive cloud delayed Mr Georgeson’s departure from the Omarama area for three hours. Mr Georgeson flew over the Erewhon area, Castle Hill, and Hanmer Springs, and obtained a final lift above the Clarence river which enabled a long final glide to Blenheim. Mr Georgeson said he intended to head for Lake Wairarapa, in the North Island, but the flight was terminated because of a misinterpretation of the Civil Aviation Administration’s requirements. These state that the minimum height at which gliders may cross Cook Strait from north to south is 25,000 ft, and Mr Georgeson understood this regulation to apply also to southnorth flights. As he could not obtain this height in the Blenheim area, the flight ended at 4.30 p.m. “Had I crossed the strait, I feel there was every chance of getting as far north as Gisborne,” he said last evening.