Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-12

Kartachev, pilot, A. Gorokhova,
passenger, U. S. S. R., established
during the past summer: altitude,
10,839872 feet, Erwin Ziller, pilot.
Germany, and duration, so hours rs
minutes, August Bodecker and Karl
H. Zander, Germany.
An American Record.
In only one of these multi-place
soaring plane classes is there an
American record. During the past
summer Levin Barringer, carrying
passenger, climbed to 6,558386 feet
for the American altitude record.
Soaring flight records. of course,
are dependent on weather condi-
lions. With increased sailplane eff
ficiency and plotting skill, however,
better advantage can be taken of
weather conditions to improve fly
ing. On an average summer day,
it is not in the least uncommon for
the average American soaring pilots
to reach attitudes Of 1900 to 5000
feet above the point of takeoff.
During the Texas meet, the average
length of all distance flights made
for record was $50 miles.
During the Elmira meet, SO Gid
ers and SO pilots were entered. They
made a total of 687 flights. The
total mileage Of all official flights
was 6,808 miles. There were 1T
flights exceeding the distance re-
quirements Of 80 miles. solo, for
Group "Silver C" pilots; Is miles
with passenger for the same pilots;
5 miles, solo, for Group II, G pilots,
or 4 miles with passenger for the
Group II pilots.
There were 1873 flights made which
exceeded the minimum altitude
records Of $3.50 feet above point of
takeof for solo Group I G pilots
and lesser attitudes for the Group
II class or pilots with passengers.
There were 81 flights exceeding
minimum duration requirements of
one to five hours.
Long Flight.
The longest cross-country flight
| of 233 miles was made by Chester
j. Decker, from Elmira to Atlantic
City, N. ]. Warren Merboth flew
202 miles to Roosevelt Field, Long
Island, and 1t. Stanley 100 miles
to Flushing, Long Island. AL three
flights were made chiefly by en-
ployment Of thermal currents and
by CLOUD hopping"
New American records established
during the contest were: Altitude,
1t. Stanley, 1884 feet above point
of release; altitude with passenger,
Levin Barringer. $3.50 feet; dis
lance, with return to point Of take
of, Chester Decker. 40 miles to
Hammondsport, N. Y, and return;
distance, 233 miles, Chester Decker.
During the meet, the first Ameri-
can pilots attained the coveted in
ternational Golden G award Of the
world soaring organization, 1stus.
This honor was attained by 1t.
Stanley, Chester Decker and John
Robinson.
Five flights were made to att
tudes Of more than 10000 feet above
point Of takeoh and 20 to attitudes
Of 5000 feet or more.
The local program for exploration
Of the possibilities of winter thermal
soaring is, in itself, a testimonial
to the increasing delcacy and pre-
cision Of modern soaring flight. Al
though 1t is only within the past
three years that summer thermal
soaring has been widely undertaken
In this country, already glider pilots
are looking forward with confidence
to the use Of the far weaker winter
thermals to lift them and thei,
silent, graceful craft into the skies
for hours of the most glorious ex-
periences aviation has opened t.
mankind.