Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22

courage ana reSCurCeIulueSS OF AVA
tors who pilot high powered planes
from coast to coast on nonstop
flights, or who keep their motored
ships in the air for weeks on end.
BY tomorrow you will be astounded at the
daring OF those who, with no motor to propel
them, viii be sailing quietly through the sky
from city TO city, trusting to uprushing cur
rents of air alone for their support and loco
motion.
Far-fetched, do you say? Impossible? Well,
let's see.
On Q smooth sloping knoll outside Los An
geles . group of alert youngsters is assembled
about what looks like q huge but slender
wooden bird. Its wings are long and light,
covering twice the span of any airplane. It's
body resembles that Of any bird, sleek, well
rounded. smooth. Only vertical tailpiece in
back dtHerentiates 1t from the bird. For there
b no motor, no propeller. no carriage, not even
the usual trnssing to support It's widespread
wings, TO compare It with the airplane you
know.
II Is glider and its lone pilot, who FITS into
4ts body snugly, IS preparing to saf this piece
Of apparent dead weight as far rs San Fran
cisco. more than 800 miles to the north, without
single landing!
The day promises to be calm and sunny.
There Is an occasional cloud in the sky, but
that Is considered more suspicious than threat
enang. slight gust is coming in from the
west, and the weather man reports fair weather
with threatening clouds toward the north.
That doesn't deter this airman, for he ex-
poets to make use of those clouds before
his Night Is over. He welcomes the signs the
pilot Of motored akp,anes abhors.
The sun has hardly crept over the eastern
hills when the pilot climbs into his cockpit in
the glider long rubber rope Is attached
tN hnNlr in he - kNan
and half dozen youths on either side stretch
1t forward prepared for the start steady
wind is felt coming UP the knoll, the young
STEERS face 1t and move directly into It,
FIRST slowly. then gradually picking up
speed the boys pun the glider into the
wind. AS they run down the slope the glider
leaves the ground and sails upward. Higher
and higher like kite It goes untn, rising now
practically without aid Of the rope. the glider
suddenly jumps upward. the rope slips on the
hook. drops to the ground and the pilot is
alone In the air.
There Is . moment Of expectancy ON the
ground IS the starters wait and watch to see
what that motorless and hfeless bird win do
now that 1t 10 left entirely to the winds. But
there's none Of that hesitancy On the part Of
the plane. 1t continues to climb UPWARD and
westward On the rising current OF air which
hrst gave 1t q start.
It Is slow. steady elHnb-l00. 400, 500 feet
and the top Of the air current In reached. The
glider hesitates Q moment, then begins its
downward descent It Is succumbing to the in
evftable gravity. but not without o struggle.
The pilot noses the ship slightly upward, while
ghdes gradually downward and forward.
The pilot looks about him. few hundred
10 kvNol ula~
ground. and it IS facing the west, the side
toward the wind. He has 400 feet to fall, but
h@ finely shaped ship Is able 10 move forward
eight feet to every one It drops So he has
plenty Of height and many seconds time to
maneuver toward that farther knoll IN order
70 take advantage Of the current Of air he Is
sure IS rising above it.
Slowly he sails toward the knoll. Finallv
ne gets there. He has lost half his heiRht, but
again ne manages to climb against gravity, for
ne has met another rising current of air-a
buoyant stepping stone" to the next knoll
k1HO11NG glider is feat not only Of IN
usual daring but CT remarkable knowledpe
OF the 1dioSyncrasies Of the weather. The pilot,
IN 1act, must be an accomplished neteoroiopist
truly . weather prophetic be able To f,v
ms ship. For it is solely on one of the major
cassifications of weather-the winds-that he
depends for the success Of his fight.
HIS whole ship is built to take fun advantage
OF the winds. Just as many hirds-uarticu-
hriy those with large Widespread sail
nziy up In the air with motionless wings out
spread, 30 the glider mimics them.
Weighing only 100 to $50 pounds and making
room for the pilot alone to handle the ailerons
ana tail for its guidance. the glider can easily
ne kept aloft against the pull OF gravity by
tne strong winds that sweep In from an open
plsm or tine sea and rise upward after striking
an elevation.