Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-28
BY JOSEPH s. EDGERTON,
Aviation Editor of The Star.

CLEVELAND, August 28.-One of the
significant aeronautical developments In
(; the United States during the past year
has been the establishment of gliding
| for sport and training purposes. The
| first national glider contest, now In
| progress here as part Of the national
air races, reveals great advances dur
| ing the past year In the art of motor
less flying in this country.
| Establishment of glider clubs in all
parts of the United States and the
opening of great national camps. where
students may get primary. secondary
and soaring training, are planned by
the National Glider Association, which
held its annual meeting here yesterday.
May Have Camp Near ID. c.
The first great glider camp may be
opened in Pennsylvania, Maryland or
Virginia in the rolling country west
of the National Capital, where favor
able conditions for gliding and soaring
prevail, it was announced by Edward
| s. Evans, president of the National
Glider Association.
1t is hoped that gliding may be es-
tablished in the National Capital dur
ing the coming year and that Wash
ington glider pilots may go into train
| ing for participation in next years
meet, officers of the glider organization
said. :
| While hilly country. with plenty Of
| clear, open spaces and favorable winds,
/ naturally is preferable for gliding. 1t Is
] sport which may be enjoyed on any
airport or other large. open field where
hills are not available, glider pilots
I stated There are areas in East Potomac
Park. along the Anacostia River below
| the Eleventh Street Bridge, which could
be used for auto-launched gliding. the
writer has been told. Boiling Field or
! any of the larger commercial airports
around the city also could be used for
this purpose. 1t was pointed out.
Either auto-launched or shock-cord-
launched flights may be made from
level ground. The shock cord Is a
length of rubberized cable 40 to 100
feet long. handled by ground crew
of 8 to 10. The center Of the cord Is
passed through hook on the glider.
/, The ground crew holds the glider and
| stretches the cord. The glider is re-
| leased and catapulted into the air.
| Flights of 200 yards are possible by this
means in a light breeze.
For automobile launching the glider
is towed behind a car at the end OF
long rope. which may be cast OF by
the pilot when he gains sufficient altl-
tude. Either of these methods is en-
ployed for students.
Miss Earhart Praises Gliding.
| Amelia Earhart one of the pioneer
! woman eliderS in this country said that
| women and girls are taking to gliding
| in rapidly increasing numbers and she
expects the glider to be the stepping
stone to general aviation for women.
The best avenue OF approach Tor boys
and young men to enter aeronautlcS Is
through gliding. Mr.. Evans said. The
transition from gliding is easy, and the
, preliminary work is absolutely safe. he
pointed out Not only will gliding
greatly aid American aviation. but 1t
will produce much better flyers. as the
trained glider pilot always makes a
much better airplane pilot than the
man without such training, he stated
Some Fly Nearly 100 Miles.
From gliding. which is merely coast
! ing downhill on the air, the student
progresses to soaring, in Whlcn the
pilot takes advantage of all upward air
currents to support this frail and DELI
cately balanced craft. DR.: Woligang
Klemperer, one of the worlds foremost
gliding authorities, stated that gliders
| have flown nearly 100 miles across
country by taking advantage Of up cur
! rents over hills and the rising air found
! under every cloud. Flights up 10 II
/ hours in duration have been made by
! trained soarer pilots.
Air Corps Bares Secrets.
| The Army Air Corps is laying bare
the secrets Of its latest combat maneu-
vers before thousands Of spectators at
i the national air races this week. Meth
DDS of attack. which have not been
! shown to the public. were demonstrated
| for the first time by the pursuit, attack
| and bombardment Squadrons.
Curiously reminiscent of the old In
! dian type of attack against pioneer
| trains is venomous snake dance as
/ sault developed by the deadly attack
squadrons. In the maneuvers all the
| planes of the squadron form single
column and follow the leader in
chain-gang effect. They circle the tar
get in great S-shapes spirals, descend
| ing with each double loop. On each