Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-12
Experienced Demonstration
Has Narrow Escape With
Unique Craft.
CHARGED WITH VIOLATING
FEDERAL REGULATIONS
Joseph Bergling, Air Legion In
structor, May Be Punished for
Flying Unlicensed Model.

Because the worlds first rubber
glider bounced when it crashed instead
of falling apart in tangle of wood,
fabric and metal, as an ordinary glider
might have done, Joseph Bergling, %
years old, glider instructor for the D. C.
Air Legion, hero of the first rubber
glider flight and crash, is able to walk
around and tell his experiences today.
Bergling, an experienced glider pilot,
was chosen to demonstrate a glider
built of inflated rubber tubes in place of
the conventional wood or metal tubing
and Spars in its first flight at Washing
ton-Hoover Airport yesterday.
lowed by Automobile.
Motion-picture cameramen and pho
tographers had gathered for the demon
STATIONS when Bergling strapped him
self into the seat of the all-rubber and
fabric glider. The glider was connected
by long tow-line with an automobile
which was to drag the peculiar craft
into the air.
When the automobile began to move,
the glider was pulled into the air with
the right wing low. Bergling worked to
level the machine, but failed, and
finally dropped the tow-cable and
landed, still with the wing low. 1t was
explained that, the glider has no con-
ventional ailerons to control the level
of the wings, but that cables are fas-
tened to the trailing edges of the wings
near the outer ends and the pilot, by
moving his control stick, is supposed to
be able to bend the rubber tubes COM
posing the wings sufficiently to provide
lateral control.
After Bergling had landed the
cameraman insisted that he make
another attempt to fly the machine, as
the first flight had not been long
enough to permit them to get the pic
lures they wanted After some in
attempt.
Right Wing Low Again.
On the second take-off the glider
went up with the right wing low
again. Efforts to bring the stubborn
wing up to level again failed and the
glider began turning to the right, away
from the line followed by the towing
car. This caused the car to jerk it
sharply to the left, dropping the right
wing still lower. The glider, tipped at
a sharp angle, was still climbing steep
" and, according to experienced av1a-
ton observers, apparently was COM
pletely out of control. Bergling then
dropped the tow cable just as the auto
jerk to the left.
AS the cable dropped the glider APP
peared to go into "wingover, leaving
it almost upside-down. From this posi-
ton it descended in what was described
as part of an outside loop, landing al
most upside-down with one wing low.
The wing struck the frozen ground,
the rubber tubes. blown up. under
high pressure, sounding like big bass
drum as they hit. The tubes yielded
under the shock and then rebounded
back into shape, throwing the glider
over, so that it landed right side up.
Bergling Climbs Out.
Bergling climbed out, waving his
arms, and pointed TO the glider, when
had resumed its original shape APP
parently entirely unchanged officials
of the airport insisted that Bergling
undergo medical examination and took
him to Emergency Hospital in the held
bus. He was discharged after examl-
nation had revealed nothing more than
a shaking up and few sore muscles.
The incident was not closed for Berg
ling, however. He was called before Oh
ficials of the aeronauticS branch OF the
Department of Commerce to answer 10
charges that he was flying an aircraft
which had not been licensed by the De-
partment of Commerce, though he Is
licensed pilot. If found guilty Of the
charges he is subject to suspension OF
his pilots license or other penalty, 1t
was stated at the department. No de-
cision in the case was reached during
the morning and it probably will be
taken under advisement. Bergling was
in conference with Gilbert G. Budwig,
director of air regulation OF the depart
ment, during the morning.
The ru' Der glider was designed and
built by Taylor Mcdaniel in garage
in the 400 block of Third street. The
rubber tube construction is expected to
result in low manufacturing costs, ease
of repair and increased safety to the
student pilot, it was explained.