IT IS ONLY GRAVITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11326, 2 October 1930, Page 3

IT IS ONLY GRAVITY.

SECRET OF THE GLIDER’S

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' When Isaac Newton watched uic historic apple fall downward instead of upward, he d d not- realise mai Hie very forces responsible for bringing that fruit to the ground would one day provide the motive rower tor men to soar'above the earth, wnces 1. W. Bellew in Lhe “Daily Rlateral.’’

It is the “gravity motor” of today. which lias pioneered aviation, and is responsible for that rapany growing pastime of gliding. Gliding is comparatively new to Australia, but in the last 12 months clubs have been formed in all States, and almost daily tins fascinating sport of cruising silently and gently through snare is gaming adherents. The Gliding Club of Victoria is only in its infancy, aiid much time must of necessity be spent m elementary work with the simplest forms of gliders or sail-planes. The enthusiasts behind the movement. however, confidently look to the day when, like the more advanced experts of Germany and America-, their “gravity motors” will take them thousands of feet into the sky. and teach them’the thrills anci wonders of smoothly moving through space with the effortless certain'' which hitherto birds alone have known.

For the pilots of these unpowered ’planes liave remained aloit for as long as 13 hours, c inn tied above VtMj feet-, and travelled .more -than J.’-o miles.

Unlike the aeroplane, with its roaring. man-made engine, which has torn a screeching path, through --•<? sublime solitude of space, the glider has gently cast itself upon tinbosom of. the wind and allowed th natural elements to teach it the true mysteries of the upper air. The man who, ..many hundreds ol rears ago, strapped wings to his bade and jumped off the top ol a high tower was not so great a tool as those who still smile thoughtlessly at his tragic effort to pioneer aviation.

He would not have been as surprised as many are to-day to see a man strapped to a pair of wings take o.» from a hill,and without any motor climb steadily to four or. five thousand feet, circle about gracetuilv among the clouds, swoop gently tor several miles earthward, circle again. and then start to rise . once more; until"’-after several hours enjoyment of the greatest of all pleasures, he returns to alight as gracefull v as the seagull on the beat’ll. The seeming impossibility of climbing to 7000 ft. without mechanical aid is after all so simple that the onl\ wonder is that more people have nni tried to jump off towers during the last, lew centuries. The glider of the type .at present Mug used in Australia, is built tor instructional purposes, and is consequently mpre -solid' and. heavy than used I’or climbing. ’ These-’- elementai-v machines arc used’ merely for gliding from a hm fo’+be fields below. • • • The more Advanced t’Txy of. saublane is 'much lighter and ohtn/ns it., lifting power from the rising air currents. After taking .off Horn a ; !v> liigh .Bill, the /pilot of the sajl- • plan©; while gliding geptly earthward,’manoeuvres about in search o rising • currents; These' he’ ‘ km™’ l how to detect, bv means of instru-. mgntF,' afid -also’’ the” of Ins, Pl ffr also knows ,that -on ?a hot,; dr v .a ylsing current will he onmt oi r sandy benches, while smalF inn’sjt wß’cli ’W'-iid >is.r-blowing'will pto-< vide’upward blasts . . >• ! /.The. ..pilffL..,onCo, ha-vin." iomid nv ascending current, Tnaintni''s- his torward , speed: by means of : huv.Ucmn- ' ward gliding 'angle or grnwitv- m - ■tor,”?' while the,, grea-tgr- strength ot ; -the -upward, air . current entries; liiip higher ..above., the earth.