Seas Around Britain Limit Sailplane Flights

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 67, 11 December 1937, Page 18

Seas Around Britain Limit Sailplane Flights

L m » m j LONDON — There ia one section of the Britisb public whieh is rather disappointed that Britain is entirely surronnded by sea. TMs statement does not Tefer to those who would rather go by train than by boat to the European continent. It refers to that rapidly growing group, the gliding enthusiasts. . The truth of the matter is that for modern sailplaners Britain is too small. It is almost.impossible for British pilots to put up records on home soil, or should it be home air, because as soon as they soar a hundred miles or so they xeach the sea and have, preforee, to descend upon the cliffs. Air and wind conditions are such in Britain that most soaring is done from east to west, and vice versa. If a pilot does arrive at Dover going south he can risk a cross-channel flight provided be has enough height to make it saf e to glide to land and does not mind going to prison if he has no passport. About 800 glider "A" (Pilot) licenses have been issued in the last three years in Britain, The standard of flying is probably as high as it is anywhere, but as yet the machines are not up to those of the German sailplane experts. Next yeary however, British makers hope to get the rights of several advanced German designs. The first international glider duration xocord for two-seated planes ever xecognized was put up .by two British pilots at the last international competition meet in Germany. This flight lasted 9 hours and 48 minutes. There are now 33 gliding clubs in England, four in Scotland, one in Northern Ireland, and' one in the Changel Islands. ' Gliding in Britain is much cheaper than 6r dinary flying. • The subseription to be the London Gliding Club, one-of the largest, is three guineas a year, and flying charges are from 3s a day up. There are 13 sailplanes and gliders. Flying goes on six days a week, and the club has a resident full-time instructor. Similar terms are available at the Midland Gliding. Club, whare there are 10 machines. At the -Derbyshire and Lancashire Club gliding can cost as little as sixpence a flight. Buyiug a sailplane is not so much cheaper than buying an airplane as might be imagined. But then sailplanes call for as much ingenuity and skill in construction as an ordinary airplane and probably need a finer flnish. Primary trainers, in wbieh the wouldbe sailplaners stay up in the air for a minute or so, cost between £50 and £100. A Teal sailplane, capablo of slaying up for several hours provided the wind is right and the thcrmal currentS strong, costs about £150.. A super highperformance plane costs £250.