FLYING NOVICES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 11 April 1929, Page 7

FLYING NOVICES

THE GLIDER FOR LEARNING GERMAN EXPERIMENTS SOME OF ITS ADVANTAGES A practical value claimed for gliders by the men who are fond of flying in these motorlcss airplanes is that they provide the novice with a safe means for learning to fly. As the principles of glider flight and power airplane flight arc much the same, one may hop around in a glider until he masters this art and then turn his attention to craft that are operated by their own power. It is pointed out that the Wright brothers learned to fly in gliders before they built their first motored flying machine, and that the Germans, prohibited by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles from building airplanes with motors, have solved many problems of aerodynamics by experimenting with gliders. Sometimes these gliders have been made over into power planes, which have been found to be more efficient than planes built around engines. AMERICAN GLIDING CLUBS But many enthusiasts prefer their gliders to planes that stay aloft under their own power. Gliding has become a sport, and gliding clubs have been organised in many cities in America to provide facilities for flying of this kind and to promote contests. There are several types of gliders, the most simple of which is launched by the pilot himself. He selects a spot where the wind is blowing toward a ground rise and launches himself down hill by running a few steps to gain momentum. The so-called "man-power" glider is launched by a small ground crew. Rubberised rope or cable is attached to the machine, and then men on the ground run with it, launching it in much the same way that a boy sends up a kite. A third type makes use of an automobile or motor cycle to give it its initial impetus. The latter generally is called a soarer. Once the pilot has his glider in the air, he stays up by taking advantage of upward air currents. He guides his machine either by changing the position of his body or with a set of controls as in an airplane. VARIOUS TYPES OF CONTESTS Several types of glider contests are authorised by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, which is represented in America by the National Aeronautical Association. These are: Duration with return to point of departure, duration without return to point of departure, distance with return to point of departiu-e, distance air line, altitude above starting point and speed returning to point of departure over a distance greater than one mile. Reports of accidents attending glider (lights throughout the country moved Edward S. Evans, president of the National Glider Association o: America, to warn young men and boys of the danger of flying a home-made glider unless it has been built with the help of an experienced glider man and after some instruction as ot its use. "An inexpei'ienced pilot using a home-built machine is very likely to take unnecessary risks which might easily result in bodily injury and sometimes death," he said. "Either experienced motor pilots or professional glider pilots should be consulted.by all taking part in the sport."