Gliding Gossip and News
Gliding Gossip and News
T month some reference was made to an interesting all-British intermediate glider, known as the “Scud.” This machine represents a clear
breakaway from orthodox practice in that instead of having a big wing-spread it has a span of only 25 feet. Its wing area is only 85 feet, its overall length 13 feet 4 ins., and it weighs but 103 lbs. So it will be realised that in every way it is a miniature amongst all other types.
The idea behind the general design was to produce a machine of the intermediate type possessing a much higher efficiency than its contemporaries, while having a better degree of control and the additional advantage of ease in man-handling, due to its low weight.
Preliminary tests showed the” Scud “to be a machine of exceptional promise, and while its first flights were necessarily of short duration, its qualities as a soarer have just recently been proved. On the 15th of last month Mr. I. Mole took her off from the London Club’s site at Tottenhoe, and although the wind was only of about 14 m.p.h. he at once proceeded to gain height, and finally reached a ceiling of some 500 feet. Mr. Mole then continued to soar for exactly 1 hour 2 minutes ; throughout his flight the machine appeared to behave extremely well, and retained its height without any apparent jockeying on the part of the pilot. Big things are, therefore, expected of this little machine.
PULL advantage has been taken of the milder weather, which has been experienced during the past few weekends, by the London Gliding Club, and members have turned up at Tottenhoe in large numbers. Besides the ” Scud’s ” excellent show, the club can also boast of further achievements.
On Saturday, 21st February, two more members qualified for their ” C ” certificates. The pilots in question were Messrs. Graham Hamby and A. Smith, and th&r flights on the ” Prufling ” lasted twelve and eight minutes respectively. Neither of these men has ever flown powered aircraft, and their sole aviation experience has been gained on the L.G.C.’s machines.
They are, therefore, the first sailplane pilots to qualify in this country as a direct result of glider training. Another member who has been doing well is Mr. Williams, who recently kept the ” Prufling ” flying for 11 minutes. A few weeks ago the ” Prufling ” was fitted with a special low-reading air-speed indicator, and pilots are finding this instrument extremely useful in making sustained flights. The best speed of this machine for soaring appears to be about 30 m.p.h., and for landing, about 18 to 20 m.p.h. Work is now in hand for the erection of a hanger for housing the whole Club’s fleet— another step in the right direction, which will make the L.G.C. one of the most progressive and up-to-date clubs in the country.
A LECTURE was given before the Westland Aircraft Society recently at Yeovil on the “Design, Development and Construction of Sailplanes and Gliders.” The lecturer was the well-known aircraft designer, Herr Lippisch, who is responsible for Kronfeld’s famous soarer the” Wien,” and several other successful machines which have appeared in Germany.
The lecture, which was exceedingly interesting, was illustrated by lantern slides. A large number of members of the Dorset Gliding Club were present, while members of the Bristol and Gloucester branches of the Royal Aeronautical Society also attended.
THE Surrey Gliding Club have now changed their location. Their new site is at Stocks Farm, Meonstoke, which is on the southern slope of Old Winchester Hill.
FOUR machines were in use at Weeton on the occasion of the inter-club meeting held there by the Leeds Gliding Club last month. These were the Bradford Club’s Dickson, the Harrogate Dickson, the Leeds Club’s ” Reynard,” and Mr. Sutton’s” Airedale.”
It is reported that several members of the club are now occupied in constructing machines of their own, so that it is likely that the Weeton site will have a busy aspect before very long.