NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1931, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

HIGH CERTIFICATES GAINED.

GLIDING COURSE IN GERMANY. London, July 16. .. Flying-Qfiicer C. E: Kay, R.A.F., of England-Australia flight fame, and Mr. C. J. Paine, of Otahuhu, and a pilot member of the Auckland Aero Club, have been to Germany to study the. spbrt of gliding, and they returned to London recently, having both obtained “C” certificates, which, they understand, is the highest qualification obtainable by an Englishman in Germapy. They are tho first two New Zealanders to obtain this certificate. Flying-Officer Kay gained an extra “0”’ license. The New Zealanders took their course at the Wasserkuppe Sail-plane School, situated about 100 miles from Frankfurt, in the Rhon Mountains. It is regarded as the most famous school of ' its kind in the world. It is the scene of the international sail-plane competitions each year, and is well known for the aero-dynamic and meteorological research work carried on there. The views from the 3000 ft. mountain are described as magnificent, while the sliding slopes are unparalleled in Europe. After completing their course Mr. Kay and Mr. Paine visited some of the aircraft manufacturing concerns at Stuttgart and Frankfurt, where again they were rendered every assistance and were treated with the utmost courtesy. They visited several German cities, travelling always by air, which they found much less costly than any other means of transport.