AIR GLIDERS

Southland Times, Issue 18965, 13 June 1923, Page 7

AIR GLIDERS

VICTOR HUGO’S FORECAST. Those who have been fancying that the utilisation of air currents in the gliding experiments, which have been meeting with such success of late, constitutes an entirely new idea, will doubtless be surprised (says thee Aeronautical Digest) to learn that in his book, “The Toilers of the Sea,” published in 18G6, Victor Hugo, in unmistakably clear words, more than touched upon this subject. He is commenting on continuous air currents and winds moving zones in his wonderful description of Gilliatt upon the rocks of Dover, when the following passage occurs: —“Aerial navigation by means of wind boats . . . may one day succeed in utilising the chief of these streams of wind. The regular cource of air streams is an incontestable fact. There arc both rivers of wind and rivulets of wind, although their branches are exactly the reverse of water currents.” It. would seem, moreover, that a term he coins for the vessels, namely, “aeroscaphes,” is a more accurately descriptivee word that any at present in use. The real use of gliding or soaring experiments, adds the Digest, is the production of really efficient aerofoils and bodies, which when produced on a large scale, will make it possible to carry big loads with very low horse-power. Therein lies the method of making commercial aviation a paying proposition. Reduce the costs by carrying twice or three times as much load for the same power, and commercial aviation will become successful.

At preyent. the petrol firms are the only people who make money out of aviation. If gliders help us to save power and petrol by producing more efficient aeroplanes, then the hard work done by glider enthusiasts will be more than justified.