Gliding pioneer honoured

Press, 7 July 1977, Page 36

Gliding pioneer honoured

PA Wellington. A New Zealand gliding pioneer and world record-I breaker, Mr S. H. “Dick”. Georgeson, of Christchurch, I has received a top international honour. He has been awarded the' Federation Aeronautique Internationale’s Gold Air:

I Medal. This was announced ’during the annual general ; meeting of the Royal New •I Zealand Aero Club yesterday. j The club's president, Mr J. 'Noel Laird, who received Iconfirmation of ''the award : j only an hour before the : I meeting, said that the Gold ■i Air Medal was the highest (honour of the federation. It. (was the first time such a (distinction had been gained (by a New Zealander. Mr Georgeson, aged 54, is la member of the Canterbury ‘Gliding Club, and has been closely connected with the sport for 30 years. He broke the world gain (of height record in 1960, and in 1962, 1965, and 1972 broke the distance to goal and return record.

The latter flight was the first of 1000 km by a glider. “Incredible and fantastic,” was all Mr Georgeson could say when he learned of his honour.

Mr Georgeson said that he had flown gliders since 1949, and his new award was a thrilling climax to his love for the sport. “I had hoped to join the I Air Force, but because of a I last-minute operation I was declared medically unfit for any military service, so I returned to flying gliders, and at times powered aircraft.”

Since 1949 Mr Georgeson has spent about 2000 hours in the air — about 12 weeks l or longer than older Air : Force pilots ever did — and he holds 24 New Zealand records and four world records.

He has also attended three world championships representing New Zealand.

Mr Georgeson. the head of one of New Zealand’s leading engineering firms, says that he has no intention of ‘retiring from flying just yet.