Evening star., 1939-06-11

Soaring now firmly established in
Europe as a governmentally-S supported
means of aeronautcal training and long
regarded as one of the more inspiring OF
all sports, is at the beginning of period
of major growth in this country which
may have far-reaching effects On Ameri-
can aviation, in the opinion of leading
exponents of motorleSS flying
In anticipation of renaissance OF
soaring which may give it first rank as
an aeronautical sport in the United
States, in point of numbers engaged,
and which may affect greatly civil and
military aviation training, the Soaring
Society of America has established its
national headquarters in Washington.
The Soaring Society and its predeces-
sor. the National Glider Association,
have guided the destinies of motorless
flying in this country for the past 10
years, virtually all of the time since
followers of the sport began to Or
ganize.
The ancestors of all heavier than-air
flight. gliding and soaring never have
lost their grip on the imagination of
mankind. Soaring comes closer to the
age-old dream of mankind to fly as the
birds fly than any other form of con-
quest of the air The soaring pilot pits
his knowledge and skill directly against
the forces of Nature, without the arti-
fetal aid of power. In this respect he
SurpaSses even the birds, most of whom
resort to powered flight, by Tapping
their wings, all or part of the time.
The S. S. A. has established its new
headquarters at Dupont Circle, in attllla-
ton with the National Aeronautic Asso-
citation, and is establishing working con-
facts with the aeronautical branches of
the Federal government. Among its
present aims are the inclusion OF glld-
ing in the great national pilot training
program of the Civil Aeronautic Au-
thority and the adoption of dual soaring
instruction as a part of the training of
all Army Air Corps pilots. The Navy
some years ago included glider training
in it's program of instruction at the Pen
sacola Naval Air Station, the Florida
base for the naval heavier -than-a air
fight training.
Wightman Is in Charge.
The national headquarters here are
in charge of Henry N Wightman, gen.
eral manager, one of the Nations out
standing soaring pilots. A native OF the
country's foremost soaring area, in the
vicinity of Elmira, N. Y, Mr.. Wightman
has been keenly interested in motorless
flying since boyhood. He began glider
training as a student of Levin Bar
Soaring Society, in 1881 at Wing Field,
Philadelphia He then was appointed
instructor to the University of Michigan
Glider Club. After this and other glid-
ing and soaring activity, Mr.. Wightman
went into aircraft engineering for four
years. leaving early this year to take
over active leadership of the S. S. A.
Mr. Wightman has taken part in every
annual national glider contest at Elmira,
except that of 1888, and usually has
placed high. In 1886, for example, he
finished fourth among As contestants
uiiuoA VIC poiiio oyoOoiA AoA viz 4 eAAN ~"
Pont prize fund awards; won the Bendlx
Silver Trophy for flight of 1876 miles
from Elmira to Middletown in utility
glider and took the Toledo Gliding Club
Trophy. He was one of five pilots at
that meet to qualify for the Silver c
Award of the international soaring group,
Istus, of which the S. S. A. is the repre-
sentative in America.
Several types of low-priced high
performance sailplanes, due to reach the
market this summer, are counted upon
by Mr.. Wightman and the S. S. A. to
overcome one of the great handicaps to
the development Of soaring as univer-
cal sport In this country. Abroad, par