article in TOWLINE, the publication ing fraternity. including for mer of the Seattle Glider Council, and World Champion Paul MacCready, BOOK REVIEW we would like to reprint for your J r.. were on hand at Malibu Beach Gliding - A Handhook on Soar benefit the October message of their to get their rides in outriggers. Every ing Flight by Derek Piggott is a chairman, Dean Reynolds: had a wondNfuJ time topped off by book which we can heartily recom "I am asked sometimes why I in a barbecue on the beach Sunday eve mend to the newcomer in soaring. sist on engaging in a hobby which ning. IAII this in November while The author is the Chief Flying In has an element of danger in it, and the northeast was experiencing the structor at the Lasham Gliding Cen my answer goes something like this: first snows of the winter.) ter in England. Because of this posi First of all, let us realize that the tion he has been able to present the degree of danger is largely in the A touch of French soaring enthu type of information needed by the mind of the observer. The familiar siasm has come to southern Califor prospective glider pilot before solo. tends to be regarded as the safe - the nia in the person of Francoise Pio But as Mr. Piggott states, the book unfamiliar regarded as the danger line, a young lady French Silver C is intended as a supplement to train ous; but this familiar human trait is pilot who is in the United States on ing and cannot replace the instructor. not the main point of the discussion. a scholarship for a year of study in The book is divided into three sec The main point is that in history, Aeronautics at the Cal Tech gradu tions and presents factual informa mankind has made no great progress ate school. Interestingly enough her tion with an almost clipped style, by acting conservatively. If some scholarship is one which is given in as implied by the word "handbook" long forgotten ancestor of ours had memory of Amelia Earhart and has in the title. The first section is en. not performed the then-dangerous also been earned by another lady titled "Learning to Glide" and is de experiment of living on the ground. glider pilot, for study at MIT a few voted to the period before solo, be we would still be huddling in trees. years ago: Rose Marie Licher, the ginning with the first visit to a glider If a few curious souls had not in. wife of your Executive Secretary. site. Much attention is given to turn dulged in the risky heresy of investi Two other previous winners, Martha ing and pattern flying with emphasis gating nature on a scientific basis in Graham ICornell) and Beverly Beane on winch launching. Throughout the stead of a theological basis we would (MIT), are also friends of soaring book many details are mentioned that still be living under conditions ap and have flown in sailplanes at EI apply m~re to soaring in England proximating those of the Middle Mirage and in New England. than in the U.S. But the student us Ages when misery was rampant over ing the book should be able to dis the whole Western World. If James Since the official beginning of the tinguish these items with the help Watt had not riskt·d being blown to of his flight instructor. bits, democracy - a centuries-old California State Soaring Records last ideal even then . could never have spring, most of the single-place rec The next section deals with "Fur existed since the only cheap source ords have been established. AII of ther Training and Soaring" and is of power to do the world's work was the records in the open category are designed to supplement the student's slave labor. also National records, with the ex training after solo. Here the reader is "Each of these great discoveries ception of distance ILl'S Arnold, 321 given a little more technical expla and many more have served to make miles), goal Ithe late Dr. John Saw nation of turning and then an ex life easier for us, but the whole yer, 275 miles) and speed around a cellent chapter on a subject very meat of the discussion is that the men 100 km course (Graham Thomson, often neglected or covered much less who made them had little idea what 48.1 mph). In the senior category thoroughly . stalling and spinning. the far-reaching effects of their work (Pilots with less than Gold C), the In this section aero tow is covered would be. Franklin, I am sure, had late Dr. John Sawyer hold four rec (in the U.S. we would have included no idea that electricity would one day ords (distance - 375 miles, goal· 275 this subject in the first section). The light the world and do a large share miles, goal and return - 106 miles, final chapter of this part discusses of its work. He was merely satisfy speed around a 100 km triangle local soaring and efficient cruising ing his curiosity about ~ natur~1 41.1 mph), and Bob Schnelker has and presents a useful set of rules for phenomenon. In the same manner, claimed the altitude records (30.940 flying the maximum distance under soaring has no 'use,' but who can feet with a gain of 18,200 feet). various conditions. kll what will result in the long run Since making those altitude flights The last section, entitled "Explor from a better knowledge of the Bob has earned his Gold C and now ing the Skies:' deals with various Earth's atmosphere and its mysteri must fly in the open category ex types of soaring and the techniques ous ways. It is unfortunate. but we clusively. In the junior category found most valuable for each. It in cannot forsee these benefits any more I pilots less than 21 years of age), cludes a d vic e for cross-country than Franklin could visualize the Rose Briegleb holds the distance rec flights and landing in strange fields. Coulee Dam Project after he had ord of 269 miles while Hugh Bikle We quote Philip Wills in SAILPLANE has the goal record of 19:).5 miles drawn a spark from the kite string AND GLIDING "He omits nothing . in his hand." and also the altitude records 114.100 such as No. 13 in the list of 15 feet with a gain of 9,400 feet). things to be remembered before tak In the southwest, Harold Hutchin ing off on a cross-country flight." son was the spark plug of an ex (Editor's note: Anv news or com The last chapter contains valuable change ride session at El Mirage and ments vou havp for "Club !\ews" will hints for "Going Faster and Farther." Malibu Beach. California. Warren be gre~tly appreciated. For inclusion This book is written primarily for Seaman, sa iIi n g champion, was in the next issue, please send all students but the great majority of among those enjoying the soaring contributions to Bertha M. Ryan, soaring pilots will find much of in flights at El Mirage on Saturday. On 2659 Centinela Ave., Santa Monica. terest. especially in the last section. Sunday many members of the soar- Cal., hefore January 1, 1959.) -Herb A. l';'amtry
NOVEMBER.DECEMBER, 1958 23