NAPIER’S BIRD-MEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21186, 5 November 1938, Page 6

NAPIER’S BIRD-MEN

Students of Engineless' Flight Exhilarating Sport Just on the outskirts of Napier, on the levels of the former Inner Harbour laid bare by the great earthquake of 1931, at fine week-ends members of the Napier Aero Club practise what is perhaps the most skilful, scientific, and trilling form of aviation —gliding. Disciples of engineless flight, they launch their machines into the air by means of a motor-tractor and a long rope just as a child sends up its kite by holding the end of the string and running along. And thereafter glider is kept aloft only by the skill and knowledge of the pilot. This fascinating sport has been carried on in New Zealand for some years, not only in Hawke’s Bay but in Canterbury also. For some reason it has failed to gain a foothold, except on a modest scale. The Napier Aero Club, probably the most thriving gliding club In the Dominion, boasts only a dozen or so qualified flying members. Yet it is a sport which has many advantages and much to recommend it as a national pastime. It is cheap enough to be within the reach of most young men. An imported glider costs no more than an imported racing skiff; and one of the machines of the Napier club was not only locally-designed, but also locallyconstructed. Moreover, a trained exponent of gliding can very quickly adapt himself to power flight in case of war or national emergency. Last Saturday, on a sunny afternoon, with a light north-east breeze, club members obtained brisk practice. Cars ranged stationary along the roadside, showed what interest was aroused by their wastime. Yet the general com--1 ment of the watchers was not airminded: “Coo! They can have it! It wouldn't do me,” were the remarks of roadside spectators. Yet it did not look particularly dangerous. No Cockpit For Pilot The machine was a Wako steelframe plane imported from America. At a glance it recalled the machines of Wilbur Wright and the pioneer aviators. The pilot sat outside and underneath, in the same unprotected fashion. The wings were above his shoulders. Beneath him he had only the small seat which supported him, and to which he was strapped, and the single landing wheel. Between his knees, as in a real flying machine, was the joystick, and his feet rested on the rud-der-bar. Five hundred feet of rope was coupled to the machine. At the end of that length was a fast and sturdy motortractor. Tire pilot, who wore none of the involved and impresive apparel of the power pilot, took his seat. The tractor moved forward and the plane followed. It had barely gone a dozen yards when the pilot pulled his stick back and the machine left the earth and mounted steeply, soaring like a Kite at the end of its tether. As It reached a height of about 300 feet, the pilot brought it to the horizontal, let go the tow-rope and began to glide. With short, quick movements the glider answered the controls. It swung in a circle away from the wind, banking far more gently than a power plane. It sailed fast to lee, then, dipping its wing quickly as the pilot steered it round, came into the wind again and soared for a moment like a gull, regaining height. But in the course of the turn the pilot had lost perhaps 200 feet of height and he now sailed straight into the wind and made a beautiful landing. He was a comparative expert. Other flights were straight and short. The beginners did not seem able to attain the initial height—perhaps because they lacked the nerve or experience to climb sufficiently rapidly. They ventured no turns, but landed straightway after casting off the rope. Certificates of Ability The instructor, Mr W. Oliver, said that “tickets” were awarded according to ability. The A ticket was comparatively easy; it laid down a certain ability to turn in either direction and to remain aloft for a stated period. The B licence demanded a prolonged average of flight, ability to carry out S and O turns, and to land in a required spot. The C licence, held by few if any New Zealanders, was subject to a prolonged soaring flight, gaining altitude from air currents and generally showing a mastery of bird flight. Beginners, he said, were able to obtain their initial instruction in a dualcontrol machine. Although many of the flyers appeared little more than boys, accidents were said to be rare and seldom serious. The keenness of members, and their ability, reflected the fascination of this exhilarating and scientific sport. Gliding is the oldest form of heavier - than-air flight. Legend tells that Deadalus pioneered it thousands of years ago. History relates that Otto Lilienthal and Captain Le Bris in Europe, and Octave Chanute in America, carried out successful flights during the latter part of last century. Lilienthal was finally killed when gliding. Later Orville- and Wilbur Wright carried out considerable research and experiment in gliding, and in 1911 put up the record of a soaring flight of nearly ten minutes. This record stood until 1922, when a German In the Rhine valley remained aloft for over three hours. The art of gliding, fallen into abeyance with the perfection of motordriven flight, was greatly stimulated in Germany by the Treaty of Versailles, restricting the manufacture of fullpower machines. Some remarkable flights, both for duration and distance covered, were made and the study ’ of gliding carried to a degree never before attained.